Why can’t we all be ourselves at work?

In the latest episode of The Why Podcast, Katie Pisa met with Gillian Ku, Professor of Organisational Behaviour, and Chair of the Organisational Behaviour Faculty at London Business School to discuss her recently published paper on how Black employees can feel more comfortable expressing their racial identity at work and how social uncertainty is a key factor that discourages Black employees from expressing their social identity.

Gillian, along with her colleagues, have found that being able to be authentic at work can be hugely beneficial. Gillian shares her evidence-based insights of why being able to express one’s identity at work promotes healthy work relationships and improved job performance among many other benefits.

Gillian also shares the benefits of perspective-taking in the workplace, and what we can all do to develop social skills to help navigate the world and our workplaces better.

Some key takeaways and topics from this podcast include:

• Everyone wants to fit in at work, but unfortunately stereotypes have negative implications that have knock on effects.

• What does authenticity at work really mean, and what are examples of this?

• The positive benefits of being able to be oneself at work

• The benefits for organisations who do embrace an authenticity climate, and how can leaders help establish this

• What does perspective-taking really mean, and what positive benefits will this bring about for both employees and organisations?

• How power, leadership and perspective-taking are linked