Words to Describe Company Culture: Bring Your Whole Self to Work
‘Bring Your Whole Self to Work’ is part of our Words to Describe Company Culture series. Also check out our ‘Work Hard, Play Hard’ and ‘We’re Like a Family‘ posts for more examples of using employee stories to push past generic statements and corporate jargon.
“I can be myself here.”
“I am my authentic self.”
“You can bring your whole self to work here.”
These phrases are common, but they often leave a lot unsaid. What does it really mean to “bring your whole self to work”? How do you turn these platitudes into meaningful stories that help candidates envision themselves at your company?
When we hear statements like these in employee interviews, we always want to hear more.
While these phrases may sound familiar across many organizations, the unique stories behind them are what truly resonate. For your company to stand out, you need to unpack this sentiment and show how your employees truly bring their whole selves to work. Let’s explore what this really looks like.
What It Really Means to “Bring Your Whole Self to Work”
Picture this: You’re in a meeting, feeling so comfortable that you can openly share your thoughts, confident that they’ll be embraced. Sounds ideal, right? But for job seekers, finding a company where this is possible is difficult. So, if your company claims to embrace authenticity, you need to prove it through real employee stories.
Below, we share four stories that go beyond the platitude and show what “bringing your whole self to work” looks like in action.
Real Examples of Bring Your Whole Self to Work
There are some great takeaways from the stories in the video above about what it means to bring your whole self to work.
1. Showing Up As You Are
In the video’s first clip, Jennifer shares a memorable moment from one of her first days at the company. She hesitated about attending the holiday party because she didn’t have anything to cover her tattoos. Her leader’s response? “So what? Embrace it. This is you.” Jennifer felt accepted for who she was—no compromises.
2. Support in Life’s Big Moments
Ethan, who recently adopted two children with his partner, tells his story in the second clip. As a gay man navigating major life transitions, Ethan received unwavering support from his company. This story shows what “being yourself” truly looks like—being supported as both an employee and a human being.
3. Access to Diverse Perspectives
Kristen shares how seeing women like her in leadership roles opened doors she didn’t know were possible. The third clip shows the ripple effect of diversity: how encouraging people to show up as themselves leads to stronger business outcomes.
4. Advocacy for Others
In the final clip, Mark, a leader, shares a deeply personal story about advocating for change on behalf of his daughter. By bringing his whole self—and his family’s experiences—to work, he fostered acceptance and sparked positive change within the company.
How to Move Past Platitudes in Your Employee Stories
Platitudes don’t paint a clear picture for candidates, but real stories do. If someone in an interview says, “I can be myself at work,” follow up with questions that dig deeper:
- When was a time your team fully embraced you?
- How has being your authentic self led to new ideas or success in your work?
- In what ways has the company supported you both in and outside of work?
These questions will help you uncover the unique stories behind the statements.
Bonus: How to Bring These Stories to Life
Capturing the story is just the first step. To truly engage candidates, take it further: pair these personal stories with photos from key moments in your employees’ lives. When candidates can visually connect with the people and events being shared, it amplifies the emotional impact.
Move Past the Buzzwords
When creating your next company culture video, aim to tell stories that only your employees can tell. Generic statements like “bring your whole self to work” can be said anywhere, but the stories behind them should be uniquely yours. The next time you hear a platitude, follow up and dig deeper.
Ready to capture stories that move beyond the buzzwords? Learn more about how we help companies create employee storytelling content that resonates with candidates.