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THE NEW WORK PLAYBOOK · June 23 · 24 min

Authenticity Theatre

The Closing Episode to Season 1 In this episode: – Why "be more authentic" became one of the most repeated and least useful pieces of advice in leadership. – How the field reached for an already-individualised idea of authenticity and ended up with a focus on self-awareness. – The difference between self-referential and relational authenticity. – Why the constraint most leaders are operating under is not an individual flaw but an organisational failure. – Robert Sutton's research on the cost of bad bosses, and why those costs almost never get measured. – A walk-back through the six foundational topics of Season 1 and what each one helps us resist. Sources: Robert Sutton The No Asshole Rule: Building a Civilized Workplace and Surviving One That Isn't (2007) Robert Sutton Good Boss, Bad Boss: How to Be the Best… and Learn from the Worst (2010) Bill George Authentic Leadership: Rediscovering the Secrets to Creating Lasting Value (2003) Jon Billsberry "Whither authentic leadership? From essentialist essence to constructionist reconstruction" in Management Review Quarterly, December 2025 Episodes referenced: We Are Losing Respect The Power Paradox The Confidence Trap The End of Why Trust: The Broken Spine Daring to Care

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The Closing Episode to Season 1

In this episode: – Why "be more authentic" became one of the most repeated and least useful pieces of advice in leadership. – How the field reached for an already-individualised idea of authenticity and ended up with a focus on self-awareness. – The difference between self-referential and relational authenticity. – Why the constraint most leaders are operating under is not an individual flaw but an organisational failure. – Robert Sutton's research on the cost of bad bosses, and why those costs almost never get measured. – A walk-back through the six foundational topics of Season 1 and what each one helps us resist.

Sources: Robert Sutton The No Asshole Rule: Building a Civilized Workplace and Surviving One That Isn't (2007) Robert Sutton Good Boss, Bad Boss: How to Be the Best… and Learn from the Worst (2010) Bill George Authentic Leadership: Rediscovering the Secrets to Creating Lasting Value (2003) Jon Billsberry "Whither authentic leadership? From essentialist essence to constructionist reconstruction" in Management Review Quarterly, December 2025

Episodes referenced: We Are Losing Respect The Power Paradox The Confidence Trap The End of Why Trust: The Broken Spine Daring to Care

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