382: How to Bring Your Whole Self to Work (Without Oversharing) with Mike Robbins
The Modern Manager
Authenticity, Identity, and Belonging at Work
Mike explores how identity, privilege, and organizational context affect people’s choices about bringing their whole selves.
Are you showing up as your full, authentic self or just the version you think others expect?
Authenticity isn’t a matter of oversharing or saying whatever’s on your mind. It’s about honesty balanced with humility and vulnerability, the kind that builds genuine trust and stronger teams.
Thankfully, today’s guest brings both experience and expertise to this conversation.
Mike Robbins is the author of five books, including Bring Your Whole Self to Work and his latest, We’re All In This Together. For the past 25 years, Mike has been a sought-after keynote speaker and executive coach who delivers keynotes, workshops, and coaching programs for some of the top companies in the world. His clients include Google, Wells Fargo, Microsoft, Walmart, eBay, Schwab, and many more.
In this episode, we delve into what it truly means to “bring your whole self to work,” examine why self-righteousness undermines connection, and explore how vulnerability cultivates trust and psychological safety. Mike shares his “authenticity equation” and practical ways managers can model openness without crossing professional boundaries.
In the extended conversation, Mike delves deeper into the art of authentic appreciation, why most people are uncomfortable receiving praise, how to cultivate a culture of gratitude on your team, and the key distinction between appreciation and recognition. He also shares a powerful team practice, “the appreciation seat,” that helps managers cultivate belonging and empathy at work.
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Conversation Topics
- (00:00) Introduction: Why Authenticity Matters at Work
- (01:03) The Challenge of Showing Up Authentically
- (01:46) The Authenticity Equation Explained
- (03:14) Removing Self-Righteousness from Your Leadership
- (06:55) The Subtle Ways Self-Righteousness Shows Up in Coaching
- (10:21) Lowering the Waterline on the Iceberg
- (16:24) The Art of Appropriate Disclosure
- (18:53) Navigating Grief and Personal Struggles at Work
- (22:30) Authenticity, Identity, and Belonging
- (26:11) The Power of Sweaty Palm Conversations
- (30:18) Connect with Mike Robbins
- (31:07) [Extended Only] The art of appreciation: how to give and receive it authentically
- (37:38) [Extended Only] Recognition vs. appreciation—what every manager should know
📚 Additional Resources:
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Keep up with Mike Robbins
- Connect with Mike on LinkedIn here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mrobbins/
- Follow Mike on Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/mikedrobbins/
- Visit Mike’s website here: https://mike-robbins.com/
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- Follow Mike on TikTok here: https://www.tiktok.com/@mikedrobbins
Guest Bonus: Book Giveaway: 3 Copies of We're All in This Together: Creating a Team Culture of High Performance, Trust, and Belonging
In this book, corporate consultant Mike Robbins dives deep into the ways great businesses build trust, collaborate, and operate at their peak level. The book’s core principles include facilitating an environment of psychological safety, fostering inclusion and belonging, addressing and navigating conflict, and maintaining a healthy balance of high expectations and empathy.
Throughout, Mike shares powerful exercises and tools he’s successfully utilized in the keynote speeches, group sessions, and corporate retreats that he delivers so that you and your team can communicate more authentically, give and receive feedback with skill, and create deeper connections.
To get this bonus and many other member benefits, become a member of The Modern Manager Podcast+ Community.
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The Modern Manager is a leadership podcast for rockstar managers who want to create a working environment where people thrive and great work gets done.
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