HBR Guide to Being a Great Boss

CHAPTER 5

Open Up to Your Team—Without Oversharing

by Liz Fosslien and Mollie West Duffy

In the age of social sharing, people who work together know more and more about one another. In general, this is a good thing for peers and leaders. Research shows our brains respond positively to people when we feel a personal connection with them.¹ We try harder, perform better, and are kinder to our colleagues. Command-and-control management is on its way out, and bosses who practice empathy and make an effort to connect with their subordinates are in.

This willingness in leaders to be open and honest, even if it makes them vulnerable, is important because it builds trust—people can easily sense inauthenticity. We tend to assume that leaders are marketing ...