Professional behaviour v bring your whole self to work

[Icannoteven]

So I've recently been told that I should not be afraid to 'bring my whole self to work'. However, although not stated explicitly in the employee handbook, I'm also pretty sure that I'm not allowed to shout 'grow up you sheltered, over-privileged, whiny vagina' at my colleagues.

As I am new to the private sector and the only working class person in a sea of very middle class recent graduates, this is a huge issue for me. Any advice?

Oh god , we have this too , no advice I'm afraid but if I brought my ' whole self' to work they'd be horrified!

I just have to stick to the outdated 'professional at all times'

Treat it with the contempt it deserves.

Not a chance - telling colleagues to fuck off to the far end of fuck is likely frowned upon

😀yes, I think that is probably for the best.

I know that Iay come off a little dry and stand-offish at work because I am suppressing so much of my actual personality to get fit in but I really don't have any idea of how I could bring a bit more of myself to work without getting sacked. Maybe I need to invent a hobby or something.

Oh god I would be sacked for being the me at home- at - work. They really don’t want to know what I think of them.

have done the fake family photo from the Argos catalogue on your desk yet?!

Do not believe they actually mean this. Under any circumstances. A bit like the Be Kind stuff from people who really were not, in any way, shape or form, kind. Tis hypocritical box ticking. Having said that, I might occasionally allow a bit of my real self to leak in a minor expression of an 'only joking manner' (but not really) opinion. You could have some fun with it

"Bring your whole self to work" is just about the worst fucking idea I've ever heard.

What they mean is fabricate a pleasant acceptable "work personality" in order to fit in.

This "work personality" must be modled on a middle class, straight, white and able bodied person. The more vacuous and basic the better. Don't forget the vacant smile!

So in addition to doing your actual job, you now also have to play act your "work personality" for a minimum of 8 hours a day 5 days a week.

Enjoy!

Honestly hate this mainly because some people interpret this as 'im going to bring my abysmal/non existent conflict resolution skills into the workplace and make you feel uncomfortable'
While id personally relish the idea to say similar to you op, tell the whiny sheltered lot to stfu, some people actually think already its acceptable to name call, sulk, be really aggressive, shout, behave insanely defensively at the slightest bit of feedback... the list goes on. I dont mind people showing their emotions at work in the slightest but im shocked at how little organisations put into setting standards on conflict resolution/receiving feedback, the behaviour i've seen at times has been horrific - to the point where if it was happening in a relationship it would be abusive.

What they actually mean is make up a great fake persona and bring that in. Nobody wants to see the real me for sure.

Ha I couldn't agree more - professional behaviour v my whole self at work.. it's either one or the other I'm afraid!

My colleagues are fine but I have no interest in sharing my real self with them, nor in knowing about their rich inner lives

Bring your 'authentic' self to work means you shouldn't have to hide or lie about your background, beliefs or things that make you 'you'. This doesn't mean you act like a dick or act like you would at home.

I agree with everyone who says they want bullshit professional’authenticity’ rather than real authenticity.

I think some beliefs should be hidden in the workplace. What if someone believed women should be in the kitchen? What if someone is racist?

But my whole self doesn’t want to be at work…

…in fact, it’s only the professional persona that would even countenance spending 8 hours at a desk when I could be in my garden, swimming, hiking, baking cookies, darning socks, resealing the bath, unblocking the drains. The rest of me would literally rather do anything but go to work.

Bring your whole self to work at my workplace is usually about being able to be gay, neurodiverse, a parent etc Not about telling Phil from finance that he’s a giant twat

Unless your surname is Putin or Jong-un, I think it would be an extremely unwise career move.

It's basically corporate lip service and when you think about it, rather intrusive.

Yeh my whole self likes to flirt, make inappropriate jokes and sit around relaxing and drinking gin so I'm still working out how to incorporate this into my working day without causing any issues.

We have this at work too- forever being asked to bring my authentic self. I think for everyone's sake, my work self is plenty of my authentic self. I take it to mean that you don't have to pretend to be straight if you are gay or something similar. But absolutely you have to pretend that the corporate jargony nonsense spouted by some is totally on point blue sky thinking....bleugh

Bring your 'authentic' self to work means you shouldn't have to hide or lie about your background, beliefs or things that make you 'you'.

Yeah, but if a colleague started talking about their homelife, I don't really want to know that they've got a foot fetish or go to swingers parties or whatever. It might well make them who they are, but mostly I just want to know about their technical knowledge or whether they've got author to sign off on a piece of paperwork. They really don't want to know about all your authentic self, and if it's something like doing a line of cocaine on a weekend, that sort of authenticity definitely wouldn't be well-received.

That's just asking you to listen to what ever exciting thing they did over the weekend.
Because Nobody really wants you to explain how you are fed up, and underpaid.

My authentic self involves not sharing much about me to work colleagues. Job done.

Oh god I know someone like that. Ticks every box you can think of. Single, possibly
asexual, hidden disability older parent of gay, possibly trans gender non neuro typical child. Plus any other box you want to add, she’s got it. Does lots of head tilts and say “hun”, “holibobs”, “be kind” and “me too”.

work me just nods and smile. Home
me has her 6ft under a patio. Which me would work like??

We had this and a presentation to boot about being authentic self. I think it is good to champion being able to be who you are but i think it is often just lip service and a tick box exercise for the employer.

'My colleagues are fine but I have no interest in sharing my real self with them, nor in knowing about their rich inner lives'

Couldn't agree more. There are people in my team who I am mates with, and I share my personal stuff with them. The others, I'm pleasant and professional but that's it. I hate this intrusive bullshit and being told who I am 'supposed' to be at work