Bring Your Whole Self to Work: Empowering or terrifying?

DEDx - Ideas worth binning

Show Notes: Whole self

Bringing Your Whole Self to Work: A brilliant concept or lunacy?

Since Mike Robbins' TED Talk and subsequent book in 2018, the idea of bringing your whole self to work come up throughout organisational life. In this podcast, we get under the skin of the idea, evaluate it, and recommend whether it’s something we should embrace or an idea to bin.

Highlights:

What are we talking about?

• Bringing your whole self to work means being authentic and consistent in behaviour, whether at work or home. It encourages individuals to share their true selves, including both positive and less positive aspects.

Challenges and Considerations:

• The concept clashes with cultural norms in some parts of the world, where there's a clear separation between work and personal life.
• The shift to remote work during the pandemic blurred these boundaries, prompting discussions about the necessity of such integration.

What are the advantages for individuals?

• Pros include reduced mental load, increased creativity, and deeper social connections.
• But it’s not all positive: There can be risks, such as oversharing, potential damage to reputation, and difficulty in maintaining boundaries.

What about organisations?

• HR often drives initiatives around bringing your whole self to work, primarily to enhance the employee proposition and attract younger talent.

Conclusion:

• While the underlying principles of authenticity and inclusivity are valuable, the wording and execution of "bringing your whole self to work" can be problematic.
• Organisations need to focus on creating psychological safety and inclusive cultures, which ultimately lies with effective leadership.

John and Anna agreed that while the concept has merit, it needs refinement and a deeper focus on organisational culture and leadership practices.

If you have any Dedx suggestions email us at [e-mail] with the subject line Dedx Idea. We would love to hear them!

John: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jadm/

Anna: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anna-wesson-54989929/
Music credit: by Yevhen Onoychenko from Pixabay
Disclaimer: The ideas discussed in this podcast are intended for entertainment purposes only and should not be taken as serious business advice. Listeners are encouraged to do their own research and seek professional advice before implementing any of the ideas discussed.