By Smita Sharma CPA
The first thing to remember? You weren’t hired just because of a degree or technical skills. Sure, those matter, but often what really gets you in the door is who you are: your personality, your values, and your experience.
Bringing your authentic self to work isn’t just good for you, it’s good for your team and your clients. Sharing a bit about who you are can break the ice, build trust, and make collaboration feel natural. People connect with people, not job titles. When colleagues and clients know you as a person, they’re more likely to collaborate with you, support you, and value your contributions.
The power of personality
Work isn’t about hiding who you are. It’s about bringing the best parts of yourself to work in a meaningful way. Some ways to do this include sharing your hobbies, asking about someone’s weekend (shows you care!), or letting your boss know if something outside of work is affecting you. That last one usually feels scarier in your head than it actually is!
Think back to group projects in school. They were easier when you knew your teammates beyond the assignment—who’s good at presenting, who loves research, who brings snacks to the study session. The same is true at work. When people understand each other as individuals, the team performs better. And work becomes more enjoyable!
Pro tip: The little things—a quick chat about food, pets, or last night’s hockey game—can make the big things, like asking for help or feedback, way easier.
Why showing up as yourself matters
Being authentic at work doesn’t mean sharing everything or letting your personal life take centre stage; it means showing up with honesty, integrity, and self-awareness. Professionalism is about reading the room, adapting your style to different situations, and staying respectful even when you disagree.
That might mean keeping your humour light in client meetings, taking ownership when things don’t go as planned, or speaking up when your perspective can help the team. You don’t need to hide your personality to be professional, but channel it in ways that build trust and show reliability. When you do that, people see the real you and respect your professionalism.
Building stronger connections
Authenticity doesn’t just create comfort, it builds confidence. A quick chat about your dog, your weekend soccer game, or even your latest Netflix binge might feel small, but it lays the groundwork for deeper trust. With clients, that can mean smoother conversations and stronger professional relationships. With coworkers, it can mean a team that feels less like a group of strangers and more like a community.
We are who we are for a reason. Don’t hide it at work; embrace it. Your values, quirks, and interests are what make you stand out. And they’re often the reason you were hired or the reason you’ll get hired for your next opportunity.
This originally appeared in the Spring 2026 issue of CPA Alberta’s Capitalize magazine.
