Authenticity in the Workplace | Courtney Bryant | TEDxMSU

currently I am studying to become an

currently I am studying to become an expert in helping organizations to

expert in helping organizations to

expert in helping organizations to succeed but thanks to my esteemed role

succeed but thanks to my esteemed role

succeed but thanks to my esteemed role as a proud auntie to my five-year-old

as a proud auntie to my five-year-old

as a proud auntie to my five-year-old niece nyla and one year old nephew Aydin

niece nyla and one year old nephew Aydin

niece nyla and one year old nephew Aydin I am already an expert at Disney movies

I am already an expert at Disney movies

I am already an expert at Disney movies how you ask well I have seen frozen at

how you ask well I have seen frozen at

how you ask well I have seen frozen at least a hundred times if you haven’t

least a hundred times if you haven’t

least a hundred times if you haven’t seen frozen it’s a movie about two

seen frozen it’s a movie about two

seen frozen it’s a movie about two sisters one of whom spoiler alert has

sisters one of whom spoiler alert has

sisters one of whom spoiler alert has magical ice powers when the oldest

magical ice powers when the oldest

magical ice powers when the oldest sister Elsa goes to become clean people

sister Elsa goes to become clean people

sister Elsa goes to become clean people learn of her magic powers and

learn of her magic powers and

learn of her magic powers and characterize her as a monster and drive

characterize her as a monster and drive

characterize her as a monster and drive her away from the kingdom the younger

her away from the kingdom the younger

her away from the kingdom the younger sister Anna goes on an adventure to get

sister Anna goes on an adventure to get

sister Anna goes on an adventure to get her sister to realize that she is loved

her sister to realize that she is loved

her sister to realize that she is loved and accepted with or without magic nyla

and accepted with or without magic nyla

and accepted with or without magic nyla loves it she thinks it is the greatest

loves it she thinks it is the greatest

loves it she thinks it is the greatest movie of all time but all time to her is

movie of all time but all time to her is

movie of all time but all time to her is only five years so what does she know

only five years so what does she know

only five years so what does she know but you know what experts agree with

but you know what experts agree with

but you know what experts agree with nyla

nyla

nyla because they say that frozen is the

because they say that frozen is the

because they say that frozen is the first Disney movie to have strong female

first Disney movie to have strong female

first Disney movie to have strong female protagonists that don’t depend on a

protagonists that don’t depend on a

protagonists that don’t depend on a handsome prince to save the day I

handsome prince to save the day I

handsome prince to save the day I however completely disagree with this

however completely disagree with this

however completely disagree with this what about Milan Milan was definitely my

what about Milan Milan was definitely my

what about Milan Milan was definitely my favorite hero in the Disney repertoire

favorite hero in the Disney repertoire

favorite hero in the Disney repertoire and came 15 years before frozen in the

and came 15 years before frozen in the

and came 15 years before frozen in the movie based on the Chinese folktale

movie based on the Chinese folktale

movie based on the Chinese folktale Mulan stole her elderly father’s armor

Mulan stole her elderly father’s armor

Mulan stole her elderly father’s armor and pretended to be a man so that she

and pretended to be a man so that she

and pretended to be a man so that she could join the army in his place she

could join the army in his place she

could join the army in his place she became instrumental in the fight against

became instrumental in the fight against

became instrumental in the fight against the hunt and saved all of China despite

the hunt and saved all of China despite

the hunt and saved all of China despite kicking butt and saving her people I

kicking butt and saving her people I

kicking butt and saving her people I think that frozen gets the title of the

think that frozen gets the title of the

think that frozen gets the title of the first Disney movie with strong female

first Disney movie with strong female

first Disney movie with strong female protagonists because Elsa and Anna were

protagonists because Elsa and Anna were

protagonists because Elsa and Anna were able to be the hair

able to be the hair

able to be the hair girls as themselves whereas Milan had to

girls as themselves whereas Milan had to

girls as themselves whereas Milan had to literally become someone else similarly

literally become someone else similarly

literally become someone else similarly we can think that organizations are

we can think that organizations are

we can think that organizations are asking for employees that are more like

asking for employees that are more like

asking for employees that are more like Elsa and Anna than Milan they are saying

Elsa and Anna than Milan they are saying

Elsa and Anna than Milan they are saying bring your whole self to work and

bring your whole self to work and

bring your whole self to work and scientists are calling this authenticity

scientists are calling this authenticity

scientists are calling this authenticity authenticity is defined as the degree to

authenticity is defined as the degree to

authenticity is defined as the degree to which a person acts in line with his or

which a person acts in line with his or

which a person acts in line with his or her core identity at work that means

her core identity at work that means

her core identity at work that means being able to share your original ideas

being able to share your original ideas

being able to share your original ideas express your true feelings and operate

express your true feelings and operate

express your true feelings and operate within your true values does this mean

within your true values does this mean

within your true values does this mean that if you don’t like your coworker you

that if you don’t like your coworker you

that if you don’t like your coworker you can be rude to them or give them a

can be rude to them or give them a

can be rude to them or give them a poisonous Apple of course not and that’s

poisonous Apple of course not and that’s

poisonous Apple of course not and that’s a different Disney movie I need you guys

a different Disney movie I need you guys

a different Disney movie I need you guys to stay focused what that does mean is

to stay focused what that does mean is

to stay focused what that does mean is that you are able to express your unique

that you are able to express your unique

that you are able to express your unique contribution to your organization as

contribution to your organization as

contribution to your organization as yourself for example as a woman as a

yourself for example as a woman as a

yourself for example as a woman as a millennial or as an african-american

millennial or as an african-american

millennial or as an african-american this push for authenticity is awesome

this push for authenticity is awesome

this push for authenticity is awesome because it shows that organizations care

because it shows that organizations care

because it shows that organizations care about employee happiness

about employee happiness

about employee happiness authenticity has been shown to relate to

authenticity has been shown to relate to

authenticity has been shown to relate to overall well-being it strengthens work

overall well-being it strengthens work

overall well-being it strengthens work relationships and it increases

relationships and it increases

relationships and it increases organizational satisfaction so in other

organizational satisfaction so in other

organizational satisfaction so in other words employees are happy from the

words employees are happy from the

words employees are happy from the business perspective this looks amazing

business perspective this looks amazing

business perspective this looks amazing because happy employees are more

because happy employees are more

because happy employees are more productive employees and better

productive employees and better

productive employees and better performing employees so the bottom line

performing employees so the bottom line

performing employees so the bottom line the money looks great but here’s the

the money looks great but here’s the

the money looks great but here’s the question who is free to be authentic we

question who is free to be authentic we

question who is free to be authentic we know that Elsa and Milan both had

know that Elsa and Milan both had

know that Elsa and Milan both had trouble being their authentic selves

trouble being their authentic selves

trouble being their authentic selves organizational researchers such as

organizational researchers such as

organizational researchers such as myself study how those with stigmatized

myself study how those with stigmatized

myself study how those with stigmatized or minority identities can only present

or minority identities can only present

or minority identities can only present pieces of them

pieces of them

pieces of them rather than their true authentic self

rather than their true authentic self

rather than their true authentic self because their whole self is not valued

because their whole self is not valued

because their whole self is not valued or appreciated in the workplace

or appreciated in the workplace

or appreciated in the workplace presenting their whole self maybe faced

presenting their whole self maybe faced

presenting their whole self maybe faced with discrimination bullying or possibly

with discrimination bullying or possibly

with discrimination bullying or possibly even losing their jobs people feel like

even losing their jobs people feel like

even losing their jobs people feel like they have to wear a suit of armor in

they have to wear a suit of armor in

they have to wear a suit of armor in order to be accepted and researchers

order to be accepted and researchers

order to be accepted and researchers find that having to wear this suit of

find that having to wear this suit of

find that having to wear this suit of armor is taxing the energy spent making

armor is taxing the energy spent making

armor is taxing the energy spent making this impression could be better spent

this impression could be better spent

this impression could be better spent actually doing their jobs as a person

actually doing their jobs as a person

actually doing their jobs as a person with magic also felt that she had to

with magic also felt that she had to

with magic also felt that she had to hide part of herself conceal it don’t

hide part of herself conceal it don’t

hide part of herself conceal it don’t feel it don’t let it show and

feel it don’t let it show and

feel it don’t let it show and researchers are calling this invisible

researchers are calling this invisible

researchers are calling this invisible stigmatized identity lesbian and gay

stigmatized identity lesbian and gay

stigmatized identity lesbian and gay employees religious minorities and those

employees religious minorities and those

employees religious minorities and those with mental or chronic illnesses for

with mental or chronic illnesses for

with mental or chronic illnesses for example may feel that they need to hide

example may feel that they need to hide

example may feel that they need to hide a part of themselves in order to be

a part of themselves in order to be

a part of themselves in order to be accepted take the Don’t Ask Don’t Tell

accepted take the Don’t Ask Don’t Tell

accepted take the Don’t Ask Don’t Tell rule of the military it banned the

rule of the military it banned the

rule of the military it banned the revealing of sexual identity for lesbian

revealing of sexual identity for lesbian

revealing of sexual identity for lesbian and gay personnel and it wasn’t removed

and gay personnel and it wasn’t removed

and gay personnel and it wasn’t removed until 2011 this organizational policy

until 2011 this organizational policy

until 2011 this organizational policy literally punished authenticity my lab

literally punished authenticity my lab

literally punished authenticity my lab my diversity of research lab did

my diversity of research lab did

my diversity of research lab did research to find out what are the

research to find out what are the

research to find out what are the consequences of having to hide a part of

consequences of having to hide a part of

consequences of having to hide a part of yourself with the resources and

yourself with the resources and

yourself with the resources and different persons with disabilities here

different persons with disabilities here

different persons with disabilities here at MSU we found that students that felt

at MSU we found that students that felt

at MSU we found that students that felt they had the higher part of themselves

they had the higher part of themselves

they had the higher part of themselves such as dyslexia or depression have

such as dyslexia or depression have

such as dyslexia or depression have lower life satisfaction in less

lower life satisfaction in less

lower life satisfaction in less satisfaction with the school in another

satisfaction with the school in another

satisfaction with the school in another research study on religious minorities

research study on religious minorities

research study on religious minorities at work we learned that those who

at work we learned that those who

at work we learned that those who thought they had to hide that identity

thought they had to hide that identity

thought they had to hide that identity had lower satisfaction lower well-being

had lower satisfaction lower well-being

had lower satisfaction lower well-being and more intentions to quit their jobs

and more intentions to quit their jobs

and more intentions to quit their jobs and those who are able to express this

and those who are able to express this

and those who are able to express this identity had exactly the opposite

identity had exactly the opposite

identity had exactly the opposite they had higher well-being and more

they had higher well-being and more

they had higher well-being and more satisfaction network now Milan had a

satisfaction network now Milan had a

satisfaction network now Milan had a very different issue her obvious

very different issue her obvious

very different issue her obvious identity couldn’t even get her the job

identity couldn’t even get her the job

identity couldn’t even get her the job she had to disguise herself the best way

she had to disguise herself the best way

she had to disguise herself the best way that she could in order to be accepted

that she could in order to be accepted

that she could in order to be accepted researchers call this a visible

researchers call this a visible

researchers call this a visible stigmatized identity women people of

stigmatized identity women people of

stigmatized identity women people of color differently abled people or even

color differently abled people or even

color differently abled people or even those with accents may feel that they

those with accents may feel that they

those with accents may feel that they have to hide a part of themselves

have to hide a part of themselves

have to hide a part of themselves because of the stereotypes that they

because of the stereotypes that they

because of the stereotypes that they face

we found that women and men leaders can

we found that women and men leaders can have the exact same behavior in the

have the exact same behavior in the

have the exact same behavior in the workplace but they be perceived

workplace but they be perceived

workplace but they be perceived differently because of gender roles when

differently because of gender roles when

differently because of gender roles when women are strong or assertive or express

women are strong or assertive or express

women are strong or assertive or express negative emotions in the workplace they

negative emotions in the workplace they

negative emotions in the workplace they are seen as the evil queen of the office

are seen as the evil queen of the office

are seen as the evil queen of the office where men are celebrated or even

where men are celebrated or even

where men are celebrated or even promoted for the exact same behavior in

promoted for the exact same behavior in

promoted for the exact same behavior in another research study we found that

another research study we found that

another research study we found that women have to work harder to present

women have to work harder to present

women have to work harder to present themselves as strong ambitious leaders

themselves as strong ambitious leaders

themselves as strong ambitious leaders as compared to men but here’s the thing

as compared to men but here’s the thing

as compared to men but here’s the thing we are leaders we are heroes and when we

we are leaders we are heroes and when we

we are leaders we are heroes and when we have to work harder to prove it it

have to work harder to prove it it

have to work harder to prove it it diminishes our ability to just be

diminishes our ability to just be

diminishes our ability to just be ourselves

ourselves

ourselves the stress of this inauthentic

the stress of this inauthentic

the stress of this inauthentic presentation leads to a number of

presentation leads to a number of

presentation leads to a number of negative consequences including physical

negative consequences including physical

negative consequences including physical and psychological stress lower quality

and psychological stress lower quality

and psychological stress lower quality work relationships and ultimately

work relationships and ultimately

work relationships and ultimately dissatisfaction with their jobs so

dissatisfaction with their jobs so

dissatisfaction with their jobs so people are not happy and organizations

people are not happy and organizations

people are not happy and organizations are losing money so how can we fix these

are losing money so how can we fix these

are losing money so how can we fix these mixed messages of bring your whole self

mixed messages of bring your whole self

mixed messages of bring your whole self to work but not that piece or be your

to work but not that piece or be your

to work but not that piece or be your authentic self

authentic self

authentic self but I’ll judge you if you do first we

but I’ll judge you if you do first we

but I’ll judge you if you do first we have to realize that change is not easy

have to realize that change is not easy

have to realize that change is not easy or without consequence

or without consequence

or without consequence heroes are not

heroes are not

heroes are not Xero’s because the ride is smooth but

Xero’s because the ride is smooth but

Xero’s because the ride is smooth but let’s write our own scenes let’s write

let’s write our own scenes let’s write

let’s write our own scenes let’s write our own movies and see how we can be

our own movies and see how we can be

our own movies and see how we can be heroes seem one we must look around and

heroes seem one we must look around and

heroes seem one we must look around and say what is the reality here in my

say what is the reality here in my

say what is the reality here in my workplace do your leaders allow you to

workplace do your leaders allow you to

workplace do your leaders allow you to speak without being stereotyped even if

speak without being stereotyped even if

speak without being stereotyped even if you don’t wear a job how might your

you don’t wear a job how might your

you don’t wear a job how might your organization be unsupportive of that

organization be unsupportive of that

organization be unsupportive of that cultural practice even if you can walk

cultural practice even if you can walk

cultural practice even if you can walk without assistance

without assistance

without assistance consider where you hold your campus

consider where you hold your campus

consider where you hold your campus meetings for those who cannot even if

meetings for those who cannot even if

meetings for those who cannot even if you don’t have magical ice powers

you don’t have magical ice powers

you don’t have magical ice powers consider if your kingdom wouldn’t like a

consider if your kingdom wouldn’t like a

consider if your kingdom wouldn’t like a princess who could build a snowman scene

princess who could build a snowman scene

princess who could build a snowman scene – now that we have identified a problem

– now that we have identified a problem

– now that we have identified a problem we have to use our courage to not only

we have to use our courage to not only

we have to use our courage to not only say this is reality how do we deal with

say this is reality how do we deal with

say this is reality how do we deal with it but this is reality how do we change

it but this is reality how do we change

it but this is reality how do we change it most heroes don’t start off with a

it most heroes don’t start off with a

it most heroes don’t start off with a grand plan or seek the glory of being

grand plan or seek the glory of being

grand plan or seek the glory of being the best hero ever they just start off

the best hero ever they just start off

the best hero ever they just start off by doing what’s right take Milan for

by doing what’s right take Milan for

by doing what’s right take Milan for example she had no no idea she would

example she had no no idea she would

example she had no no idea she would become such a legend but she did what

become such a legend but she did what

become such a legend but she did what she felt in her heart she needed to do

she felt in her heart she needed to do

she felt in her heart she needed to do in order to protect her family theme 3

in order to protect her family theme 3

in order to protect her family theme 3 we must start with those closest to us

we must start with those closest to us

we must start with those closest to us research shows that we have the biggest

research shows that we have the biggest

research shows that we have the biggest impact on our family and on our friend

impact on our family and on our friend

impact on our family and on our friend so at the dinner table when grandpa

so at the dinner table when grandpa

so at the dinner table when grandpa makes that homophobic remark start a

makes that homophobic remark start a

makes that homophobic remark start a conversation educate your friend when

conversation educate your friend when

conversation educate your friend when she makes a racist joke fight with your

she makes a racist joke fight with your

she makes a racist joke fight with your niece and nephew about what the greatest

niece and nephew about what the greatest

niece and nephew about what the greatest Disney movie is these will be the most

Disney movie is these will be the most

Disney movie is these will be the most challenging but the most rewarding ways

challenging but the most rewarding ways

challenging but the most rewarding ways to start our journey to authenticity now

to start our journey to authenticity now

to start our journey to authenticity now with these three scenes you may realize

with these three scenes you may realize

with these three scenes you may realize that you aren’t Elsa or Milan with the

that you aren’t Elsa or Milan with the

that you aren’t Elsa or Milan with the stigmatized identity and that’s okay you

stigmatized identity and that’s okay you

stigmatized identity and that’s okay you can be honor honor was a true hero

can be honor honor was a true hero

can be honor honor was a true hero because she was the one who made the way

because she was the one who made the way

because she was the one who made the way for her sister to be accepted and be

for her sister to be accepted and be

for her sister to be accepted and be loved with the courage and tenacity of a

loved with the courage and tenacity of a

loved with the courage and tenacity of a Disney hero we are on our way to better

Disney hero we are on our way to better

Disney hero we are on our way to better workplaces and also better versions of

workplaces and also better versions of

workplaces and also better versions of ourselves if we allow people to be their

ourselves if we allow people to be their

ourselves if we allow people to be their authentic self imagine the beautiful

authentic self imagine the beautiful

authentic self imagine the beautiful mosaic that we can create together

mosaic that we can create together

mosaic that we can create together whether you are Elsa or Anna or Mulan

whether you are Elsa or Anna or Mulan

whether you are Elsa or Anna or Mulan you can be a hero in your environment

you can be a hero in your environment

you can be a hero in your environment just the way you are thank you

just the way you are thank you

just the way you are thank you [Applause]