Among companies with a conscience, there’s a fashionable notion that employees should be bringing their “whole selves” to work. The whole self is vocal with feedback and generous with personal stories. The whole self is bursting with low-level quirks and surprising interests. And the whole self is honest about their struggles and patient with their colleagues, because we’re all friends here, right? The concept of bringing one’s “real” self to work was popularized in 2015 by the author and speaker Mike Robbins, who implored viewers of his much-watched TED Talk to “embrace vulnerability and to let go of our attachment to what other people think about us.” It’s a lovely concept, this idea of just being yourself. But don’t fall for it. You don’t owe your boss your personality, and the risk of baring it all can far outweigh the rewards. This story is from Kinfolk Issue Forty-Six Buy Now Related Stories Arts & Culture What’s the Matter? On the struggle to care equally. Arts & Culture Issue 37 Such Good News On the success of others. Arts & Culture Issue 29 Lost in Space Technology is inflating our personal bubbles. Should we pop them? Arts & Culture Issue 26 Andrea Codrington Lippke Design journalist and Kinfolk contributing editor Andrea Codrington Lippke on the most and least beneficial of her personal habits. Arts & Culture Issue 51 Emily Gernild The Danish painter breathing new life into an old medium. Arts & Culture Food Issue 51 Imogen Kwok The artist takes food styling quite literally, creating accessories out of fruits and vegetables.
Arts & Culture Issue 29 Lost in Space Technology is inflating our personal bubbles. Should we pop them?
Arts & Culture Issue 26 Andrea Codrington Lippke Design journalist and Kinfolk contributing editor Andrea Codrington Lippke on the most and least beneficial of her personal habits.
Arts & Culture Food Issue 51 Imogen Kwok The artist takes food styling quite literally, creating accessories out of fruits and vegetables.
