Can you be yourself in business? How reminders of business affect the perceived value of authenticity

Authenticity is generally beneficial to employees and organizations, but do business
students believe that the business world affords it? On the one hand, business may
be regarded as incompatible with authenticity, as it is arguably ruled largely by etiquette,
norms, and conventions that leave little room to be one's true self (hindering
role). On the other hand, business may be seen as promoting authenticity, as it is
arguably based largely on creativity, initiative, and independence that provide opportunities
to thrive by being one's true self (facilitating role). We proposed that business
students would be more likely to endorse the facilitating role of authenticity. We
hypothesized, in particular, that mere reminders of business (i.e., primes) would raise
the general value of authenticity, but only among those who dispositionally value
authenticity less (than more). Results of two experiments were consistent with the
hypothesis. We discuss theoretical, managerial, and educational implications.