Articles · Self-Advocacy
The Cost of Masking: Why Authenticity Drives Performance
A plain-language look at how fitting in can drain cognitive energy, and why psychological safety supports better work.
Shared Language editorial team
Published · 2 min read
What masking can look like
Masking means hiding natural behaviors to appear more normal or socially acceptable. At work, this might look like forcing eye contact, copying others’ communication styles, pretending not to be overwhelmed, or spending energy trying not to seem different.
Masking can help someone survive socially, but it has a cost.
Why it affects performance
When a person spends most of their energy managing appearances, they have less energy left for problem-solving, creativity, memory, and focus. A workplace may see someone as high functioning while the person is privately exhausted.
Separate impact from style
Psychological safety does not mean every workplace behavior is acceptable. It means managers should separate impact from style before making assumptions.
- Instead of “You seem disengaged,” try “Is there a better way for you to share input?”
- Instead of “Your tone is too blunt,” try “The message was useful. Let’s work on how it may land with this audience.”
Try this next
Notice where your team rewards performance — and where it may be rewarding social masking instead.