Being your “authentic self” sounds good during a training course. It’s appealing to believe that our need to be accepted could pan out across all of the domains of our lives.

Does that idea hold up in practice? There’s been a growing emphasis on bringing your whole self to work these days.

One person talking about it is Eric Barker, Author of “Barking Up the Wrong Tree: The Surprising Science Behind Why Everything You Know About Success Is (Mostly) Wrong” and “Plays Well with Others: The Surprising Science Behind Why Everything You Know About Relationships Is (Mostly) Wrong“.

In a recent blog post, The Most Surprising Path To Happiness: 5 Secrets From Philosophy – Barking Up The Wrong Tree, Eric discusses a little bit about the authentic self. He draws on the philosophy of Arthur Schopenhauer to examine the concept. (He also describes many more helpful concepts in this article, so check it out.)

The idea of being fully authentic at all times sounds freeing, but it overlooks that we are contextual beings. Authenticity is about alignment, not full disclosure. Different environments call for different versions of us. Different is not equal to fake. The way you show up with close friends, your children, or in a leadership meeting will naturally vary. That isn’t inauthentic; it’s adaptive.

A key part of emotional intelligence is knowing (and at times choosing intentionally) which parts of yourself to amplify or hold back depending on the moment. Work, in particular, is a shared space with goals, expectations, and diverse personalities. Being “real” doesn’t have to mean being unfiltered. The balance is about expressing who you are in a way that works for both you and the environment you’re in.

Additional Reading:

• Drive: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us
• The Fearless Organization: Creating Psychological Safety in the Workplace for Learning, Innovation, and Growth
• Reinventing Organizations: A Guide to Creating Organizations Inspired by the Next Stage in Human Consciousness
• The Art of Possibility: Transforming Professional and Personal Life
• Leaders Eat Last

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