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Being your whole self at work can be challenging.

It's important to make sure that what you're sharing is work appropriate.

You might want to test the waters before sharing your authentic self, if you don't want to incur risks.

Being vulnerable with others is ok and can deepen work relationships in meaningful ways.

"Bring your whole self to work" is a phrase that you have probably heard before. But, is it safe or appropriate to be your full self in a work setting? In our research, and in others' research, the benefits of authenticity have been documented. You can build stronger and more trusting relationships with others when you are authentic. Plus, especially if you are a leader, people are likely to be motivated to take on leadership roles themselves if they see you leading without compromising who you are.

But, authenticity can be challenging in certain circumstances. For example, research shows that being yourself is most beneficial when others accept you. If you share something that is stigmatized or unpopular, you may not benefit from being authentic. So, how can you be yourself and also avoid the risks of being rejected?

Make Sure You're Being Work Appropriate

First, it's important to recognize that workplaces are not the same as purely social settings. Things that may be appropriate to share with friends or family members can, at times, be inappropriate to share at work. For example, any disclosure that is against HR policy, such as sharing information that could be viewed as harassing or insensitive, is outside the scope of being appropriately authentic.

Before you share, make sure what you're sharing is safe for work. If you're not sure, run it by someone outside of work to get a second opinion. Being authentic is great, but violating policy is not an option.

Testing the Waters is OK

Second, before you share something deeper or riskier about yourself, you might want to start small. While being authentic is generally better than not being authentic at work, you may want to be careful about what you reveal and to whom.

If you're afraid that being yourself might come with risks you don't want to incur, you might try a signaling strategy to determine whether the environment is accepting or not. Signaling is when you allude to a part of yourself you're not sure others will receive well, to test the waters before fully revealing.

On the other hand, you might decide that being authentic is worth incurring potential risks. In that case, you can reveal deeper parts of yourself and see how things pan out. For some people, hiding who they are is more painful than being judged by others. It's also important not to overblow the potential for risks. If you think that others won't be accepting but you have no evidence that they will judge you, you might be overestimating the benefits of inauthenticity.

Feeling Vulnerable is Normal

Of course, being authentic can make you feel vulnerable with others. And that's just fine! Being yourself with your colleagues can feel strange at first, especially if you've been more closed off in the past. But, it also builds trust and deepens relationships at work. Showing that you're willing to share parts of yourself with others helps them to feel more comfortable sharing their true self with you.

Mutual self-disclosure is what makes relationships strong. When you share a bit of yourself with others, they will start to be more open and honest with you. Over time, your relationship will strengthen as you and your colleagues share with one another.

So, what's the big takeaway? Being appropriately authentic is a really great way to strengthen work relationships. Of course, it's important to weigh the risks of doing so. But, in supportive work environments, it's better to share who you are than to conceal your true self. What is one small piece of yourself that you can share with your team?

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