‘Strategic authenticity’ at work proposed
NEW YORK, UNITED STATES—Workers and managers alike grapple with balancing the need to express authenticity at work while maintaining professionalism.
An EY survey highlighted that 92% of Gen Z workers value authenticity highly, yet managers find that this cohort often struggles with maintaining professional standards in attire and language.
“There’s a generational component to this for sure,” Julianna Pillemer, an assistant professor at NYU Stern School of Business, told Charter.
“I teach college students, and I see a visceral reaction to the idea that you would ever have to pretend to be something you’re not. But at the same time, they all know that to get the jobs that they want, there is some balancing act.”
Introducing ‘strategic authenticity’
Pillemer’s recent research advocates for “strategic authenticity,” a method that encourages employees to balance genuine self-expression with workplace norms and expectations.
In a detailed conversation about implementing this model, Pillemer described authenticity as “alignment between what’s going on inside—my inner states, my inner feelings, my thoughts, or my genuine personality—and what I’m expressing externally.”
She delineates two main approaches to demonstrating authenticity: transparent self-expression and distinctive behavior, which contrasts with cultural expectations.
For overly polished professionals, Pillemer advises: “Examine for yourself what are some moments that you could bring this into my workplace interactions, which would help build relationships.”
For those who resist filters, she cautions: “Think about, ‘Do I really need to bring all of this to the workplace? Or can I do this in a way where I still feel like myself, but in a way that still doesn’t violate anyone else’s expectations or norms of me in any dramatic or offensive way?’”
Role of managers in fostering authenticity in the workplace
Pillemer notes managers should carefully message around authenticity to avoid inadvertently pressuring minorities to conform. Leaders can also facilitate “genuinely expressive moments” between people, especially with many workplaces going virtual.
By employing strategic authenticity, workers can express their genuine selves while respecting workplace cultures, bringing authenticity without undermining their professional image.
