Converging Thoughts on Being Yourself at Work

by Chris Hall on November 24, 2009 · Comments

My Receptionist
Image by Hallicious via Flickr

Yesterday I wrote about people being a differentiation strategy for businesses. I also wrote about being yourself at work back in August after sort of an epiphany that I am the best that I can possibly be while I am being myself at work.

It turns out that I am definitely not alone in this sentiment, as Fran Melmed pointed out to me today.

Share Your Freak

Back in August, Fran and I must have been on the same wavelength even though we’re miles apart geographically. She wrote an awesome post about her inner struggle to mix her professional and personal worlds, in a post called Why I Share My Freak and You Should Too. Which is all about this personal identity we suppress during the hours of nine to five.

I really like Fran’s take.

The Whole Person

Yesterday Fran hipped me to a post by Joe Gerstandt called Whole People Build Whole Organizations that you definitely need to check out. In fact, my friend Deryl at Dorm Buys tweeted that it was a really great post. The premise is that organizations are missing out by restricting their people from being comfortable enough to truly be themselves at work.

I’m all about it.

Some Thoughts

Why do we fear being ostracized for being who we are? Is there really an opportunity out there that we may miss out on for being ourselves? And if so, was it really an opportunity worth having in the first place?

So if you’re in an organization holding your people back from being themselves at work or you’re an individual holding yourself back at work, then I’d like to dedicate this song to you:

  • ed, i had the exact same fears. that's what the post chris references is all about! and what i found is...nothing happens, but i get happier, find people admire my ability to "be less boring," and that i am having more fun with my work. pushing yourself out of your box emboldens you to push all of your thinking out of it too.

    f
  • My theme for 2010 is "Be less boring" so this was a timely thing for me to read, but I gotta tell you, it's intimidating. First, there's such an overwhelming culture of conformity that we're up against. The notion of "professionalism" -- so bland, so white, and so normal ... like Cream of Wheat or something -- permeates every workplace and professional organization I've been involved in. Let my freak flag fly? I'd love to but what will happen? Will I be forced back into my box? Will I eat alone at lunch? Will they stop inviting me to retirement parties? Probably not, but it's tough to swim against the stream.

    Thanks for giving me food for thought during Thanksgiving week. Yum!
  • Great points, Ed. I like to look at what I can gain by being myself as opposed to what I could lose. If I lose the acquaintance of some boring / bland people then so be it... Especially if I'm able to attract fun / exciting people in the process.

    It's not easy though. Definitely something I'm working on over time... :)
blog comments powered by Disqus

Previous post:

Next post: