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Women at Work

Lead with Authenticity

Women at Work

Harvard Business Review

Gender, Business, Hbr, Workplace, Equality, Careers, Business/entrepreneurship, Harvard, Business/management, Business/careers, Management, Human, Entrepreneurship, Progress, Women, Resources

4.81.5K Ratings

🗓️ 9 February 2018

⏱️ 69 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

As leaders, we know we’re supposed to be authentic, but for women, that can be tricky. For one thing, it can be hard to even know what our “true selves” want with all the demands competing for our attention. For another, there are different expectations about how women should look, and behave. In this episode, we talk with an expert on authenticity, as well as a woman trying everyday to bring her best self to work and help others do the same. Guests: Tina Opie and Candice Morgan. Our theme music is Matt Hill’s “City in Motion,” provided by Audio Network. For links to the articles mentioned in this episode, as well as other information about the show, visit hbr.org/podcasts/women-at-work.

Transcript

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0:00.0

Harvard Business School Executive Education develops leaders who make a difference in the world.

0:06.0

In their programs, experience the power of fresh perspectives and connect with a world of new ideas.

0:13.0

Learn more at HBS. Me slash work.

0:17.0

That's HBS.

0:18.0

M.E slash work.

0:23.0

It's a Tuesday morning in early February, and I look pretty much like I usually do at the

0:34.0

in early February, and I look pretty much like I usually do at the office. I'm wearing gray pants and a beige sweater, and because I have a big meeting I've

0:38.7

added a Navy blazer and purls. I even blow-dried my hair. Usually I just comb it in the car on the drive in and throw it up in a bun.

0:47.0

And makeup, I mean today I did a coat of black mascara but honestly some days I feel so busy

0:52.1

that I forget to do that.

0:53.0

To be honest I really hate having to think about what I wear to work.

0:57.0

At the same time I know that my outward appearance affects whether or not I can have the

1:02.0

impact that I want to at work.

1:04.0

Tina Opie knows what I'm talking about.

1:07.0

Substance should absolutely be the thing that you focus on the most,

1:10.0

but what you don't want is an appearance that detracts or distracts from your

1:14.7

substance. She's an assistant professor of management at Babson College and she

1:18.7

researches and writes about how organizations can help or hurt employees attempts to be themselves at work.

1:24.0

Authenticity is what it feels like when you can bring your whole self to work,

1:29.0

when your behavior matches your intentions.

1:31.0

And researchers have found that feeling authentic at the office

1:34.3

has been linked to higher engagement, higher work life satisfaction, better performance,

...

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