It’s easier to be yourself at work when you’re popular

Being yourself is not always an easy task—especially at work. But new research finds the ability to do so comes easier to some than to others, for a surprising reason. The ability to be authentic on the job also has a great deal to do with how well-liked you are. 

In a series of studies involving thousands of participants, social psychologists at Columbia Business School found that social status (defined as how well liked someone is) is deeply important when it comes to being yourself. “Our findings suggest that social status may be as important as self-esteem in increasing authenticity, which is surprising,” said Erica R. Bailey, a Ph.D. student who worked on the studies, said. 

Dr. James T. Carter, another one of the researchers and an assistant professor of organizational behavior at Cornell University, told Fast Company that the study used Bailey’s previous work, which developed ways to quantify authenticity.  

The studies involved conversations between strangers which took place over Zoom. The researchers then manipulated social status in follow up experiments. Researchers created scenarios, such as one where participants were told if they were selected or not for Employee of the Month, which was based on being “well-respected and admired by others.” They were asked to write about how the experience made them feel. Carter said the experiments showed that social status increased “felt and expressed authenticity.” 

The experiments seemed to indicate that popularity matters deeply (even long after high school). So much so, Carter says, that it’s an even more important factor than rank or position when it comes to being able to show up as yourself at work. “This is interesting from a research standpoint because prior work would argue that formal rank (or power) is critically important for authenticity, but we find the story is a bit more complicated than that,” Carter said. 

Carter added, “Although both are relevant for authenticity, it is social status that really lets people be their authentic selves.”

The ability to feel comfortable being authentic at work matters. Previous research has found that authenticity is a huge driver of happiness. A 2020 meta analysis found that authenticity is key to employee engagement and overall well-being. 

The latest research suggests that high school guidance counselors were wrong. Popularity does matter even after high school.  In fact, it may be one of the most powerful tools one has at the office. And, perhaps, in life.