3 Reasons Why “Bring Your Whole Self” Is Such Bad Advice For Diversity

When people talk about Inclusion someone always says that you should be able to bring your whole self to work.

Find out why this is such bad advice

Here are some key messages from this episode:

• Why bringing your whole self to work may be a bad idea
• The misleading argument against bringing your whole self to work
• The difference between your best self and your whole self and much much more

Play the episode for more.

Here are some key takeaways from this episode

Bring Your Whole Self to Work

I discuss why the phrase “bringing your whole self to work” is so commonly used around the world

“Bring your whole self to work, this is one of those tried and tested statements used by diversity champions all around the world. I know this because I’ve heard people say it all around the world”

The Relationship between Your Whole Self and Identity Work

I explain why bringing your whole self to work is indicative of the need to do Identity work:

“When people talk about bringing their whole self to work, I think of it as a way of saying people shouldn’t have to do unnecessary forms of identity work based on their social identities”

Defining Your Best Self

I explain the importance of defining your best self on your terms:

“I’m my professional self, which is not necessarily my at home self, but that’s fine. When I walk through the door its work, you know there are certain levels of professionalism that needs to go with that and that’s who I am.”

Here are some resources so you can go deeper:

Ashley Berg Jensen Linkedin

Bring Your Whole Self to Work: How Vulnerability Unlocks Creativity, Connection, and Performance

Bring your whole self to work | Mike Robbins | TEDxBerkeley – YouTube

Be Authentic Bring Your Whole Self to Work – Sheryl Sandberg YouTube

Diversity Councils and Business Resource Groups: The Coca-Cola Company

Check out these related episodes of the show.

Identity Work and Employee Resource Groups 

Whenever you’re ready, there are a few ways I can support your Inclusion Journey:

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