Book Recommendation: Don’t Be Yourself: Why Authenticity Is Overrated (and What to Do Instead).

In Don’t Be Yourself: Why Authenticity Is Overrated (and What to Do Instead), Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic challenges one of the most commonly accepted ideas in modern leadership and development. That being “authentic” is a true and noble goal for effective leadership.

At first glance, authenticity sounds virtuous, even courageous. We encourage people to “bring their whole selves to work” and to “just be themselves,” assuming that self-expression naturally leads to better leadership and healthier cultures. Chamorro-Premuzic argues that this well-intentioned advice often does the opposite.

In the workplace, “authenticity” is frequently used as a shield for behaviors that undermine effectiveness: “That’s just who I am” ignores the very real needs of others. Chamorro-Premuzic reframes effective leadership as a disciplined practice rather than a moral identity. Strong leaders focus less on expressing who they are and more on understanding how they are perceived, how their behavior affects others, and what the situation requires. This means prioritizing strategic self-awareness, emotional intelligence, and behavioral flexibility over self-validation.

For the world of work, this has major implications for leadership development. Development programs that overemphasize “being yourself” can unintentionally reinforce blind spots. By contrast, data- and assessment-based approaches help individuals understand their patterns, derailers, and interpersonal impact, creating space for intentional growth.

The takeaway: Being your best self, not your most unfiltered self, is what enables effective leadership. Data, validated assessments, and structured feedback provide a far more reliable path to growth than slogans about authenticity. When people understand their tendencies and choose how to show up based on evidence and context, both individuals and organizations perform better.

This book is a sharp reminder that development starts with understanding how we show up and choosing, intentionally, how to do better.