Digital HR Leaders with David Green Why Authenticity Is Overrated - and What Great Leaders Do Instead
Nov 18, 2025
Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic, a Professor of Business Psychology and bestselling author, dives deep into the misconceptions around authenticity in leadership. He argues that unfiltered self-expression can hinder trust and effectiveness. Instead, he emphasizes emotional intelligence and the need for self-editing. The discussion also touches on the transformative role of AI in the workplace, challenges around inclusivity, and the risks of eliminating entry-level jobs. Chamorro-Premuzic advocates for using data and people analytics to drive meaningful change in the future of work.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
Authenticity Is Overstated And Misapplied
- Authenticity as a blanket virtue is misleading and often unhelpful in leadership contexts.
- Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic argues authenticity became distorted and needs a nuanced, evidence-based replacement.
Authenticity Is Perception, Not Privilege
- Authenticity is best judged by how others perceive you, not how you feel internally.
- Being predictable, emotionally intelligent, and other-focused builds trust more than unfiltered realness.
Self-Edit To Preserve Trust
- Self-edit: censor or temper impulses that harm collaboration or trust at work.
- Prefer polite inauthenticity to authentic rudeness when interactions demand civility.
