Now To Next Podcast EP 6: Don’t Be Yourself? Why Authenticity is Overrated with Dr. Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic
Is “just be yourself” really the best career advice? Or can authenticity backfire for leaders and professionals alike?
I sat down with Dr. Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic—international authority in people analytics, talent management, leadership development, and the Human-AI interface—to unpack why authenticity may be overrated, and what leaders should focus on instead.
Why you should listen
Leaders: Learn why oversharing can dilute authority and how to balance authenticity with responsibility.
HR & Talent Professionals: Understand why self-perception matters less than reputation—and how this shapes leadership success.
Anyone navigating AI & work: Explore how technology is reshaping authenticity, trust, and identity in the workplace.
Highlights
Why “just be yourself” is not always safe or effective advice.
Self-perception vs. reputation: what really defines authenticity.
The risks of oversharing at work—and how it impacts leadership.
Why individuals from out-groups face tougher challenges being “authentic.”
How AI blurs the line between genuine self and digital persona.
Quote to remember:
“At some point, your right to be you ends and your obligation to others begins.” — Dr. Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic
Whether you’re leading teams, advising organizations, or reflecting on your own growth, this conversation will challenge assumptions and offer a more nuanced perspective on identity and leadership.
🎧 Listen/ Watch here → https://podcast.nowtonext.ai/episodes/EBIDvTJuWrs
About the Guest
Dr. Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic is an international authority in people analytics, talent management, leadership development, and the Human-AI interface. He is the Chief Innovation Officer at ManpowerGroup, co-founder of Deeper Signals and Metaprofiling, and Professor of Business Psychology at both University College London and Columbia University. He has previously held academic positions at NYU and the London School of Economics, lectured at Harvard, Stanford, LBS, Johns Hopkins, IMD, and INSEAD, and served as CEO at Hogan Assessment Systems.
He has published 10 books and over 200 scientific papers, making him one of the most prolific social scientists of his generation. A frequent contributor to Fast Company, The Guardian, Forbes, and Harvard Business Review.
📘 His latest book, Don’t Be Yourself: Why Authenticity is Overrated and What to Do Instead, will be released on October 7th—but you can secure your copy now via pre-order.
I’ve carried a rule with me:
Clarity without kindness is brutality.
Kindness without clarity is betrayal.
That’s why I struggle with the framing of “Don’t be yourself.”
In Dr. Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic’s model, maturity seems to mean limiting the self to fit external expectations. And I see the truth in it: context matters, and unfiltered authenticity can be reckless.
But as someone who paid the price of silencing myself for 10 years, I’ve come to a different line: maturity is holding onto the self while flexing form to fit context.
For me, the danger isn’t oversharing. It’s the slow erosion that happens when we leave our whole self at home.
Fantastic episode Jason!