5 Self-Disclosure at Work

An interview with Katherine W. Phillips by Amanda Kersey

Self-disclosure is a key element of authenticity at work, but finding a balance with it can be difficult. What is OK to share? How much? To whom? And how do you share personal details without oversharing?

In the following conversation, I talk to Katherine W. Phillips, who, before her death in 2020, was a professor of leadership and ethics at Columbia Business School. We discuss why sharing information about our personal lives helps us build professional relationships and why individuals from underrepresented groups might hesitate to open up to their colleagues.

Amanda Kersey: What does research say about self-disclosure in the workplace?

Katherine W. Phillips: ...

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