Why Being Authentic is More Important Than Ever During the Return to In-Person Work

As organizations begin planning for various forms of in-person work this fall —?and primarily?hybrid work ?—?I continue hearing the same comment come up on client calls and in my personal conversations. So many people are saying, “Ritu, one of the main reasons I don’t want to go back to in-person working is because I can’t be authentic at work.”

Whether it’s introverts who are dreading having to “be on” as extroverts all day, women feeling the pressure to?wear more makeup ?in order to seem “polished” or People of Color anticipating heightened racial/ethnocultural?micro-inequities ,?there are many ways in which the fear of conforming are playing into the anxiety related to returning to forms of in-person working.

As someone who is a passionate advocate for authenticity (and even wrote a?book ?about it!), I both fully understand this concern and it breaks my heart because I know from my work and research that authenticity is the fundamental ingredient for inclusion in the workplace. Authenticity and inclusion go?hand in hand !

While the pandemic has brought with it many challenges, one of the small blessings to come from the huge shift to our working lives was that it opened the door to authenticity for so many people. Not only did we see our leaders, colleagues,?and even renowned business leaders be more authentic about their lives and life challenges, including their journeys with diminished mental health, we became more comfortable than ever with talking about our challenges and?being ok with not being ok .

The pandemic removed the pressure so many of us felt to hide parts of ourselves or to?perform ?at work and it demolished the illusion that we could somehow?“do it all” .?But as the world starts to open back up again, this pressure to once again behave as though everything's perfect when it isn’t?can feel terrifying and also like a step backwards.

For some, this shift and the thought of returning to in-person work brings mental health-related concerns such as fear, uncertainty, stress, and anxiety. This can be especially heightened for women, BIPOC professionals, people with lived experience of mental health challenges, and other groups who faced heightened barriers to bringing their?Authentic Selves ?to work before the pandemic.

In order to create a safe, supportive and meaningful transition back to in-person work, leaders must be conscious of this and focus on cultivating authenticity as much as possible. I encourage you to download my tip sheets on?authentic leadership ?and leading inclusively in?hybrid working environments . (And check out my strategies for individuals?here .)

It’s important to acknowledge that the past year was experienced differently by each person and that the return to in-person work may not be a source of excitement for everyone. But by leading with authenticity during this time, you can ensure that your team feels supported and prepared throughout this transition.