The concept of work / life balance has been a major sticking point in the social consciousness for years now, especially highlighted in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic of 2020 and beyond. For some employees, going above and beyond seems to be the only way to feel valued at work, while others argue that they’re only willing to offer minimum performance for minimum payment. Young professionals and industry leaders alike have argued and debated the worth of hard work from boardrooms to chat rooms, and everywhere in between. Most recently, American tech mogul Marc Andreessen weighed in, introducing his argument for keeping the so-called “full self” out of the office.
To understand the breadth of Andreessen’s comments, we’ll have to briefly unpack what it means to present your full self, dive into the collective opinion on American workplace values and study industry trends in both social and professional spaces. It’s unlikely that we’ll uncover one universal answer that resonates with everyone, though interpreting Andreessen’s advice may help you establish healthy guidelines within your own life. With no further preamble, let’s get started and see if we can create a foundation for success within the office environment of 2025 and beyond.
What Is The Full Self?
As remote work became more popular with the rise of COVID-19, employees were given extensive leeway to present a more raw, unfiltered version of themselves than ever before. Gone were the days of business formal clothing, customer service voices and well-kept hair and makeup. As Marc Andreessen and others have explained, this constitutes shedding the “work self” in favor of the full self, and displaying your genuine personhood, warts and all, for your coworkers and bosses to see. During the pandemic, most of us had a shared understanding that work was second to health, togetherness and family; this allowed the world to collectively drop its guard for a brief period.
Now, nearly five years out from the first recorded case of COVID-19 in the United States, most in-office jobs have returned to a new normal. Amid this transition, people are wondering if it’s too late to put the toothpaste back into the tube. At best, the full self constitutes leaving strict corporate protocol behind to help your fellow man on a person-to-person level. At its worst, it could mean seeing a coworker donning a pair of fuzzy slippers and a distinct lack of decorum at your next shareholder’s meeting. While we’d all like to embrace the idea of being comfortable in our skin at all times, Andreessen and his peers have suggested that it’s time for the masses to quit being unfiltered and return to being strictly work-appropriate.
Marc Andreessen’s Take
According to a post shared on X (formerly Twitter), Andreessen feels that the full self is outwardly childish and indicative of an overall lack of professionalism. Specifically, the billionaire stated, “The one thing you should never, ever, ever do is bring your full self. Leave your full self at home where it belongs and act like a professional and a grownup at work and in public.” While these words ring true for certain representations of the self, some employees have grown to thrive in the post-COVID era of tolerance and acceptance. Overall, there are certain aspects of our personalities that should be more welcome in the workplace; some of these transitions have helped to inspire more positivity, productivity and camaraderie.
Stripping Back Your Full Self Can Go Too Far
Though Marc Andreessen makes a compelling argument against being one’s full self at all times, it can surely be agreed that no workplace should require its employees to behave like inhuman robots. The Apple TV+ original series “Severance” explores this theme heavily, developing characters who literally transition their consciousness into workplace drones while on the clock. In the show, these characters achieve a seemingly perfect work/life balance. Of course, there comes a cost as they ultimately find themselves desperately searching for meaning and counting the seconds until they can escape from their endless workplace labyrinth.
Perhaps there’s a way to meet in the middle and provide your workspace with a splash of personality amidst the sea of conformity by offering your “best self” in place of your full self. This would entail stripping back any elements of your behavior and presentation that are overtly unprofessional, and leaning on the things that make you stand out as an individual in a positive way. Depending on your field, your career may hinge on forming positive relationships with the people around you, which can only be achieved if you put your best foot forward by checking any controversial opinions, fringe politics or unsavory actions at the door.
