The problem with ‘bringing your whole self to work’

The problem with ‘bringing your whole self to work’

From McKinsey Talks Talent by McKinsey People & Organizational Performance

March 25, 2026 · 24 min

About this episode

The episode discusses the implications of authenticity in the workplace and its impact on leadership in the age of AI.

Being yourself at work has become a corporate mantra—and it certainly started in a well-meaning way. But it can also have significant downsides, according to Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic, author of Don’t Be Yourself: Why Authenticity Is Overrated (and What to Do Instead). In this episode of McKinsey Talks Talent, Chamorro-Premuzic joins McKinsey leaders and talent experts Brooke Weddle and Bryan Hancock, as well as Global Editorial Director Lucia Rahilly, to explore what authenticity really means in the workplace, when it helps and hurts, and what may matter more for employees looking to accelerate their leadership trajectory in the age of AI.  See www.mckinsey.com/privacy-policy for privacy information

People in this episode

Hosts: Brooke Weddle, Bryan Hancock, Lucia Rahilly

Guest: Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic

Topics covered

  • authenticity
  • workplace culture
  • leadership
  • AI
  • employee performance

Keywords

  • authenticity
  • workplace
  • leadership
  • AI
  • employee performance
  • corporate culture
  • Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: McKinsey

Books & works: Don’t Be Yourself: Why Authenticity Is Overrated (and What to Do Instead)

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