Our Biases Undermine Our Colleagues’ Attempts to Be Authentic

The term “authenticity” has become a buzzword, with employers encouraging job candidates and employees to bring their whole selves to interviews or the workplace. And while employee authenticity can be positive, many organizations may be unwittingly setting themselves up for failure when they jump on the authenticity bandwagon. This occurs when, in assessing employee fit, leaders are they inadvertently judge how well people conform to the majority culture instead of how well they are suited to perform their jobs. In doing so, while simultaneously extolling the benefits of authenticity, companies may be be creating an untenable and unethical tension for many employees. To remedy this, leaders should observe, document, and reflect on their own ideas about signals of professionalism; empathize with employees who may dress or act in ways that differ from accepted cultural norms; and be a role model of truly authentic dress and behavior.