It sounds empowering. It sounds brave.

It can also quietly derail your career.

In this episode of The Manager’s Matrix, Björn breaks down a hard truth: authenticity at work is not about being unfiltered. It’s about being calibrated.

Inspired by insights from Thomas Chamorro-Premuzic in Harvard Business Review, we unpack five ways “being yourself” can backfire:

• Dropping political opinions into the wrong room

• Venting emotions instead of regulating them

• Confusing bluntness with leadership

• Oversharing vulnerability

• Ignoring the unspoken rules of presentation

This isn’t about wearing a mask.

It’s about reading context.

The most effective leaders don’t suppress who they are. They adjust the dial. They know when to lean in, when to hold back, and which version of themselves the moment demands.

Because authenticity isn’t a light switch.

It’s a dimmer.

And mastering it might be one of the most powerful leadership skills you’ll ever develop.