Authenticity - UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School PDF

Authenticity  Scenario It’s 5 years after your UNC graduation and you are now managing a 15-person team. The CEO wants your opinion on how you want your employees show up to work. You have two options: 1. Bring their “task selves” to work – leaving personal lives and non-wo...

Authenticity  Scenario It’s 5 years after your UNC graduation and you are now managing a 15-person team. The CEO wants your opinion on how you want your employees show up to work. You have two options: 1. Bring their “task selves” to work – leaving personal lives and non-work opinions out of the office at all times 2. Bring their “real, whole, unfiltered selves” to work – no comments or personal details are off-limits In your project teams, discuss what you would choose and why. If everyone is on the same page, have a ”devil’s advocate” to try to provide a perspective on the other option. You must ultimately choose one option!  Today’s Big Idea… Authenticity can be challenging and require vulnerability… …but it often leads to greater self- acceptance, improved relationships, and increased fulfillment in life. “Know thyself, and “To thine own self you will know the be true.” universe” -Temple of Apollo, ~600 BC -William Shakespeare; 1599  Why should you care? Linked to several important outcomes, including: Well-being Job satisfaction Career fulfillment Trust Ethical behaviors Caza et al., 2017; Harter, 2002; Roberts, Cha, Hewlin, & Settles, 2009  au·then·tic·i·ty (continuous process of) alignment between our internal sense of self and our outward behavior (expressed appropriately) Chen, Didonato & Krueger, 2010; Roberts et al., 2009; Walumbwa et al., 2008  Common Beliefs About Authenticity Authenticity means always You can be authentic and expressing your inner-most regulate your speech and thoughts and emotions emotions in a way appropriate for the situation Authenticity is a fixed trait It’s a dynamic process that changes over time! Authenticity is easy (just be Being authentic can be yourself!) very challenging because it requires vulnerability, self-reflection, and taking risks Caza et al., 2017; Harter, 2002; Roberts, Cha, Hewlin, & Settles, 2009  The goal is to connect the puzzle pieces Situation Me Behavior (Context) Personality Culture Values Norms Strengths People Why Pressures Ashforth & Tomiuk, 2000; Cha et al., 2019; Hewlin et al., 2020  In organizations… Most employees don’t always feel like they can be authentic at work Smith et al., 2019  Covering A strategy in which we downplay or change part of our identity to meet the perceived needs of the situation Goffman, 1963; Yoshino, 2006  Because our focus is on the situation Situation Behavior (Context) Me ity Culture l ona Norms e rs s P alue ths People V treng Pressures S hy W Ashforth & Tomiuk, 2000; Cha et al., 2019; Hewlin et al., 2020  Different Types of Covering Appearance-based Advocacy-based Altering self-presentation – including mannerisms, grooming, and attire – to Not sticking up for your own groups that blend into the mainstream and you identify with deemphasize an identity Affiliation-based Association-based Avoiding behaviors widely association with Altering behavior to avoid group contact your identity, often to negate stereotypes with other group members Smith & Yoshino, 2019; Yoshino, 2006  Team Chat 1. Have you ever felt like you had to cover at UNC or in any job that you’ve had? 2. What are some reasons why you have felt like you have or have not covered? 3. Did you feel like covering (or not covering) impacted your performance? 4. Is covering always bad?  Authenticity as a Dynamic Process Authenticity is a dynamic process! – Ongoing journey of self- exploration and self- discovery – Consists of confronting internal and external barriers – Involves taking risks and encountering new experiences and challenges End state: Have a more genuine, fulfilling work experience (and life!) by aligning your actions with your values and beliefs Ibarra, 2015