Why Leaders Should Bring Their Best Self—Not Their Whole Self—to Work

Few corporate mantras have spread more widely—and aged worse—than the exhortation to “bring your whole self to work.” Initially coined to promote psychological safety and inclusion, the phrase has since morphed into a rallying cry for radical transparency and unchecked self-expression. While often well intentioned, this advice becomes not just misguided but actively dangerous when applied to those in senior leadership roles.