In this episode, Melody Wilding unpacks the concept of authenticity in the workplace and challenges the conventional wisdom that being true to yourself is the ultimate secret to success in the workplace. She shares how the pursuit of authenticity can sometimes be a defense mechanism or way to play it safe. What You’ll Discover: Rethinking Authenticity: The conventional advice to "just be yourself" at work may be a trap that hurts your career progress. What we consider our authentic self might actually be a defense mechanism. Impact of Early Messages: Messages you received during your formative years, like "tone it down" or "don’t rock the boat," can fool you into staying small – and you mistake that for your authentic self. Authenticity vs. Safety: Playing it safe by not speaking up or standing out is not authenticity. Before holding back, evaluate whether you are acting out of fear or outdated perceptions rather than genuine self-expression. — Connect with Melody: FREE GUIDE: Steal These Scripts for Saying No at Work Follow Melody on Linkedin Follow Melody on Instagram  Visit Melody’s Website to Learn More about Her Programs and Books — About the Psychology at Work Podcast Welcome to Psychology at Work. I’m your host Melody Wilding, licensed social worker, human behavior professor, and author of two books: Trust Yourself: Stop Overthinking and Channel Your Emotions for Success at Work and Managing Up: How to Get What You Need From the People in Charge. With a background as an emotion researcher, therapist, and after over 13 years of coaching thousands of executives and leaders across the world, there’s nothing I love more than helping emotionally intelligent people like you use superpower to make work better for themselves and everyone around them.  Because here’s the thing, technical skills will only get you so far in your career. It's mastering your own psychology and understanding that of others that will truly make or break your success.