LinkedIn encourages Aussies to be more open at work in latest campaign via Edelman Australia

LinkedIn has launched #BringYourWholeSelf – a new campaign created by Edelman Australia, that encourages Australians to be more open about their values, aspirations and opinions in their professional life.

To coincide with the launch of the campaign, LinkedIn has released research which found that 6 in 10 Australian workers (58%) hide some aspects of themselves in their professional life and almost three quarters (70%) do not feel comfortable expressing their vulnerabilities at work.

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Based on the insight that children are not afraid to be themselves, #BringYourWholeSelf has been launched through a video which features the uninhibited personalities of children answering the question – “What it means to be yourself?”.

Says Shiva Kumar, head of brand and communications for LinkedIn Australia & New Zealand: “Through this campaign we want to raise awareness that it is important to bring your whole self to your professional life. We want to encourage professionals to be more open and speak their mind.

“Embracing your vulnerabilities at work is becoming increasingly important because not only does it help build trust with your colleagues, it also enables you to establish an authentic connection with your network. LinkedIn provides professionals a platform to voice their opinion on topics that matter to them and engage in open conversations with the community.”

When asked why they hold back elements of themselves in the workplace, over half (57%) of the professionals surveyed said they wanted to avoid conflict, while more than a third (35%) said they were concerned about how others would react or perceive them.

Over a third (35%) of respondents surveyed said they hold back expressing their mental health and wellness, with nearly three quarters (74%) of respondents saying it is a career limiter. Meanwhile, 1 in 5 (21%) Australians still hold back from expressing their sexual orientation in the workplace, with nearly half (45%) of respondents also seeing it as a career limiter.

Respondents also cited speaking your mind about issues (61%); ethnicity (57%); gender (53%) and; religious beliefs (52%) as possible career limiters in Australian workplace.

Fostering an open and accepting working environment not only has a positive impact on the workplace culture and morale of employees, but it also benefits the overall business, with nearly half (44%) of respondents saying being themselves has a positive impact on productivity. Respondents also said being themselves at work has a positive impact on their job satisfaction (47%), as well as their personal health and wellbeing (39%).

Says Jamil Bhatti, creative director at Edelman Australia: “Despite coming a long way in breaking down the stigmas associated with ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, mental health and wellness, LinkedIn’s research proves there is still a great deal more that all Australian professionals could be doing.

“We are very proud to be collaborating with LinkedIn on the launch of #BringYourWholeSelf because it demonstrates the importance of maintaining an accepting working environment and ensuring that all Australians feel comfortable being themselves at work.”

Client: LinkedIn Australia

Public Relations: Edelman Australia