CHAPTER 16

Finding Your True Self at Work

An interview with Tina Opie

Editor’s note: Tina Opie was interviewed by HBR editors Amy Bernstein, Sarah Green Carmichael, and Nicole Torres.

Authenticity is what it feels like when you can bring your whole self to work—when your behavior matches your intentions. Researchers have found that feeling authentic at the office has been linked to higher engagement, more workplace satisfaction, improved performance and better overall well-being. That’s why authentic leadership has become something of a gold standard at many companies today.

But there’s a challenge for women who want to be authentic at work. There are expectations about how we should look or communicate—and that’s especially difficult for women ...

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