Is your “work self” a costume? How to spot it in 10 seconds

By Yogesh Pandey · 22 October 2026 · 2 min read

The short answer

Ask one question: does this make me sound more like me, or like everyone else? If the answer is everyone else, it is a costume, and you can take it off. Signs of the costume: your voice changes when you pick up a work call, you laugh at jokes that are not funny, you say “sounds great” when it does not.

Spot it in 10 seconds

Your voice changes when you pick up a work call. You laugh at jokes that are not funny. You say “sounds great” when it does not. You rehearse your intro in the lift.

Why it feels like you

You have worn it so long that it feels like you.

The test

Ask: does this make me sound more like me, or like everyone else? If it is everyone else, it is a costume. Take it off.

Try this next time
  1. Today, catch one line that is not you. Just one.
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Common questions
Why do I sound different at work?

Many people wear a work self: a changed voice, borrowed phrases and rehearsed lines. After years it feels normal. A simple test is to ask whether a line sounds like you or like everyone else.

How do I be more authentic at work?

Start small. Catch one line today that is not you, and say it the way you would say it to a friend.

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