Acting naturally at your workplace is always a bit tough. You want to present a professional demeanour, and often that comes at the cost of censoring yourself. So we want to know: do you self-censor at work?
Photo by library_mistress
In a recent survey, researchers found that about 61 per cent of people felt pressure to cover up their true personality at work. Often this meant altering appearance, various affiliations, or advocacy groups. In some ways, this led to a lack of confidence for employees. Do you self-censor at work? How does it affect you if so?
Comments
10 responses to “Do You Self-Censor At Work?”
Yep, I self censor, otherwise I wouldn’t have a job after telling the bosses what I think of them and the various moronic policies they implement (which get in the way of doing actual work to justify their own jobs)
Yes, both to colleagues and clients. Some of my colleagues are so racist and it bugs me a lot – if you’re going to be that ignorant, at least keep it outside the workplace – but I’ve learnt the dangers of rocking the boat before. And I have a client facing role so of course I have to act in an appropriate manner for them.
Yes? You are a normal person.
No? You are that IT sperglord that causes people to take the stairs when they see you waiting at the lifts.
Agreed. I think everyone does, to an extent.
I am in IT support so I have to. If we told people what we really thought we wouldn’t last long.
Cant really go telling people that they are actually stupid when they give you that “must just be me heh heh heh” crap…
I feel your pain, but if it wasn’t for the technologically challenged we’d be out of a job.
Self censor, definitely. As much as we like to think society has progressed, a lot of individuals haven’t. Plus, with political views and religious views (I’m a left wing atheist), there’s significant scientific evidence that owning up to these views makes you be perceived as less trustworthy (even by other left wing atheists!). Sexism is something I experience constantly in the workplace, and that’s the hardest one to cover up my viewpoint on.
No one at work knows that I’m actually an ageing punk rocker.
Ofcourse, any sane person would. Obviously here and there in the back offices things sometimes come out but for the most part yes. If I didn’t I would be in trouble for expressing my opinions about the several soulless, baby eating gingers we have at work.
I’ve been the big personality at work in the past but never felt it did much for me, now I’ve gone too far in the other direction and sometimes think I’m too introverted, better that than embarrassment I guess.