How can you be authentic while still meeting the demands of your role?
It’s a tricky balance to strike – staying true to your values while adapting to different situations can feel like a losing battle. But with the right approach, you can navigate this paradox and truly stand out in your career.
Feeling the Professional Persona Paradox
Picture this: You’ve just been promoted to a leadership position. You want to be open and honest with your team, but you’re worried they’ll see you as weak if you’re too transparent. Or you’re in a new company culture that values self-promotion, but that’s not you. These are real challenges that many leaders face every day.
Take Mary, for example. She was a senior manager in a tech startup and decided to be completely honest with her team about feeling overwhelmed after her promotion. Unfortunately, this backfired. Her team started doubting her ability to lead, and Mary quickly learned that being open isn’t always the best approach.
Then there’s Raj, an Indian executive whose company was acquired by a British conglomerate. The new culture expected him to be more assertive and self-promotional, clashing with his values of humility and teamwork. He struggled to balance adapting to the new environment and staying true to himself.
These cases highlight the professional persona paradox: How can you be authentic while still meeting the demands of your role?
Approaches to the Professional Persona Paradox
One way to understand this dilemma is through the Stereotype Content Model (SCM). According to this model, people judge others based on warmth and competence. A leader seen as warm but not competent might be liked but not respected, while someone seen as competent but cold may earn respect but not trust. Striking a balance between these perceptions is critical to managing how you’re seen at work.
Herminia Ibarra’s research offers another perspective. She advocates for “adaptive authenticity,” encouraging leaders to experiment with different behaviors and learn from role models. Ibarra’s approach suggests that leaders should see themselves as “works in progress,” allowing them to evolve while still feeling authentic.
Strategies for Balancing Authenticity and Professionalism
Finding this balance isn’t easy, but some strategies can help:
Contextual Relevance: Always consider the relevance of personal information before sharing it. Make sure it fits the situation and won’t undermine your professionalism.
Safe Spaces: Identify trusted colleagues with whom you feel comfortable. These individuals can help support your authentic self in a professional environment.
Adaptive Authenticity: Don’t be afraid to experiment with different behaviors. Learn from others and adapt your style to fit the situation while staying true to your core values.
Professional Boundaries: Ensure that your authenticity doesn’t cross into unprofessional territory. Maintain appropriate boundaries in behavior, appearance, and communication.
Balancing authenticity and professionalism is challenging, but by embracing adaptive authenticity and understanding how your actions are perceived, you can lead with confidence while staying true to yourself.
We are here to help, and we would love to hear from you!
Cristina Ferreira da Costa
President & Founder
CDCConsulting Partners, LLC
+1 (404) 528 9792
[email protected]
