Authenticity at work: a risky gamble or the key to progress?
« ‘Don’t try to be someone else, you might lose yourself along the way.’ »
Charlie Chaplin
Dear all,
Over the past few weeks, I’ve had the opportunity to both experience and lead two powerful moments that made me reflect deeply on the question of authenticity at work.
The first event was an afternoon I had the joy of facilitating for 40 future leaders, as part of a talent development program for women. The theme was “How to embody authentic leadership – head, heart, and body.” For three hours, we explored values, role models, meaning, and the reconnection with the body to take care of ourselves and reclaim our potential, and with the heart, to fully embrace our emotions and nurture our relationships.
We had a fascinating debate, centered around this question I want to ask you today:
How authentic can we really be at work?
In other words:
Should we take off the mask? What would be the risks… and the benefits?
What do you think?
We shed light on the challenges and complexity of the issue:
The paradoxes and contradictory expectations that pull us in different directions.
Our upbringing, society, and managerial cultures that rarely encourage authenticity or vulnerability.
Our own beliefs and fears (of judgment, criticism, exclusion…) that prevent us from being fully ourselves. (Don’t women suffer even more from self-limitation than men?)
A lack of TRUST—in ourselves, but especially in the collective.
Because maybe keeping the mask on is, after all, a way to protect ourselves, to create distance, or simply to conform to corporate culture, to adapt. Isn’t that what it means to be “corporate”?
Yes, but how far should we go in adapting?
Where is the line between adaptation (necessary) and over-adaptation (destructive)?
What are the keys to a safe, liberating, and empowering authenticity?
Our conversation was unusually sincere. We shared doubts, vulnerabilities, the weight of the mask that slowly suffocates us until sometimes we no longer know who we really are.
For my part, I dropped the mask as soon as I arrived that day: I had just come from a funeral, a difficult moment… I decided not to pretend, not to hide behind a smile or my role as a “good professional” — efficient and detached. I explained where I had been that morning, expressed my sadness and my questions in a few words.
Yes, I stripped down a little!
But I felt so welcomed.
That moment of vulnerability opened the door to a deeper discussion about meaning, about the importance of our life choices (life that passes so fast!). Without knowing it, I was demonstrating the very subject of our workshop: being real connects us deeply to others, it embraces our humanity, nurtures empathy and relationships. It creates a safe space where everyone feels authorized to share their ideas and emotions fully. Being in our emotions is not a sign of weakness—it is a sign of strength, trust, and inclusion.
That afternoon, I felt I was in the right place.
The second event that fueled my reflection in October was an annual gathering I would not miss for the world: the wonderful Ève leadership program, where I am honored to contribute. This international, cross-company program—designed by Danone (with partners such as L’Oréal, Orange, La Poste, SNCF, Crédit Agricole, KPMG, and Société Générale)—has a motto that resonates deeply with me: “Dare to be yourself to act.”
This motto inspires me not only for its boldness, but also for its coherence: it is not just a slogan on a website. It is embedded in the program’s content, pedagogy, and embodied by the organizers and facilitators.
To dare to be yourself means first daring to look within—to understand who we are, what moves us, what inspires us, where our talents and power lie. It means daring to be yourself with others—to build authentic, strong relationships. And finally, daring to be yourself in the world—to shine, embody our values loud and clear, and drive change.
But conforming to or adapting to a sick, harmful system (do I need to remind you of the alarming statistics on burnout and mental health issues at work?)—is that really progress?
In the workshops I lead at Ève, we talk about aligning head, heart, and body. This is not abstract: we truly have three centers of intelligence—the brain in our head, the brain in our gut, and the brain in our heart. My conviction is this: if we keep working in a way that values only our head, we put ourselves at risk of exhaustion, and we cut ourselves off from our true self, our authenticity, and our power.
In these sessions, where I guide participants to reconnect with their bodies, sensations, intuitions, and emotions, I witness how quickly the masks fall, how sharing becomes deeper, how people open up, liberate themselves, and shine.
Leadership is not told, not thought—it is embodied.
Authenticity is expressing who we truly are with our body, our heart, and our head—in our words, in our listening, in our presence, and in our actions.
These two October experiences resonate with my deep conviction:
By daring to fully embrace who we are, we become more powerful, more impactful, more radiant.
At home, as at work, because we are the same person, with the same values, aspirations, and needs.
“Authenticity requires courage: the courage to be imperfect, to be vulnerable, and to set boundaries.” — Brené Brown
Authenticity: an inner alignment
“The worst perversion is to mask one’s authenticity.” — Carl Jung
This quote reminds us of the importance of dropping the mask and owning who we are. Yes, even at work, despite our fears.
Research on authenticity at work shows that this inner alignment is not only a personal quest, but also a driver of performance and well-being. A study published in the Journal of Vocational Behavior (2017) revealed that authentic employees feel greater fulfillment and professional satisfaction. Brené Brown’s work also highlights that those who dare to be vulnerable—that is, authentic and in tune with their emotions—create stronger connections and greater impact in their professional environments.
Authenticity and emotions: reconnecting to our humanity
Our emotions are powerful barometers. They connect us to vital energy and send us essential signals to move forward in life. Yet, many of us, out of fear of appearing weak or unfit, tend to hide emotions at work. The problem is, this cuts us off not only from our humanity but also from our ability to connect, to make good decisions, and to tap into our full potential.
As Brené Brown said so beautifully: “Vulnerability is the birthplace of innovation, creativity, and change.” In other words, being authentic means daring to show our flaws and emotions. That is where our true power lies.
A study published in the Journal of Applied Psychology demonstrated that hiding emotions at work leads to greater emotional fatigue and lower professional engagement. On the other hand, reconnecting to emotions helps us understand what truly motivates us and act accordingly.
Being authentic is being powerful
When we embody authenticity, we feel aligned, congruent, and that congruence gives us inner power.
A person who is not authentic deprives themselves of this strength and, in some way, extinguishes a part of themselves.
Playing a role or wearing a mask ends up exhausting us, cutting us off from our emotions, and leaving us in mental and physical fatigue.
A Gallup Institute report (2013) revealed that employees who can be themselves at work are 22% more engaged and 16% more satisfied with their jobs than those who feel they must play a role. This shows that authenticity not only enhances well-being but also boosts performance.
“To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment.” — Ralph Waldo Emerson
Ok, but how can we truly be ourselves, especially in contexts where it feels difficult?
Listen to your emotions: Recognize and accept them—they are precious messengers!
Clarify your values: What values drive you? Which ones define you? Think of people who inspire you: what qualities and values do they embody? Often, these are your own values and aspirations.
Ask: Am I aligned? Take the time to observe: do your words, feelings, and actions match? Feedback from others can help.
Listen to your body: It constantly guides you. Your gut, your instincts, send you messages about your needs, about the direction to follow, about what is happening inside you. Listen! Courage lies in the gut, not in the head.
Allow yourself to be vulnerable: Authenticity is not perfection. It’s accepting that you can’t control everything, that you need others, that you can share doubts. You are not perfect—and that’s a good thing. You are human.
“It is only by being yourself that you can be truly alive.” — Jean Paul Sartre
I encourage you to explore this path of authenticity, because it is by being aligned with yourself that you can unleash your full power.
I’m not saying the journey is easy…
It requires deep introspection and courage.
It requires cultivating trust.
My advice: Walk this path alongside those who share your values. Ask for and offer support. The journey is always lighter and more joyful together!
And you—how do you find this balance in your daily life?
Are you the same person at home and at work?
I leave you with this reflection. I wish you meaningful inner discoveries and share below a few resources to support your journey!
See you soon,
Alice VIVIAN
Founder of Culture CARE
