The transition back to in-person work or to a hybrid workplace has been on our minds for some time at bci. We were working with clients on this in the fall, but of course, had to pause due to Omicron, and we’re now back on this again.

Many organizations have begun planning again for various forms of in-person work this spring, but I continue hearing the same concern coming up during client conversations: “We’re learning that one of the main reasons many team members don’t want to go back into the office is because they feel they can’t be as authentic in-person.”

Whether it’s introverts who are dreading having to “be on” as extroverts all day, women feeling the pressure with juggling child care responsibilities or to wear more makeup in order to seem “polished” or People of Color anticipating heightened racial/ethnocultural micro-inequities, there are many ways in which the fear of conforming are playing into the anxiety related to returning to forms of in-person working.

As someone who is a passionate advocate for authenticity (and even wrote a book about it!), I fully understand this concern. I know firsthand from my work and research that authenticity is the fundamental ingredient for inclusion in the workplace. Authenticity and inclusion go hand in hand!

While the pandemic has brought with it many challenges, one of the blessings to come from the huge shift to working remotely was that it opened the door to authenticity for so many people. Not only did we see our leaders, colleagues and even renowned business people be more authentic about their lives and life challenges, including their journeys with diminished mental health, we became more comfortable than ever with talking about our challenges and being ok with not being ok.

Working remotely has helped to remove the pressure so many people feel to hide parts of themselves or to perform at work — plus it’s demolished the illusion that we can somehow “do it all”. But as the world starts to open back up again, this pressure to once again behave as though everything’s perfect, when it isn’t, can feel terrifying and like a step backwards.

For some, this shift and the thought of returning to in-person work brings mental health-related concerns such as fear, uncertainty, stress and anxiety. This can be especially heightened for people with lived experience of mental health challenges, professionals of color, women, LGBTQ+ professionals and other groups who faced heightened barriers to bringing their Authentic Selves to work before the pandemic.
 
In order to create a safe, supportive and meaningful transition back to in-person work, leaders must be conscious of this and focus on cultivating authenticity, belonging and psychological safety as much as possible. This starts with shifting focus to authentic leadership and digging deep on ensuring that you are leading inclusively in hybrid working environments.

It’s important to acknowledge that the pandemic was experienced differently by each person and that the return to in-person work may not be a source of excitement for everyone. But by leading with authenticity during this time, you can ensure that your team feels supported and prepared throughout this transition.