Business · Companies · 17 hrs ago
Why openness about personal struggles can help at work
People often choose whether to share personal difficulties with colleagues or keep them private.
The column’s author recalls hiding the shock of helping a friend in a mental health crisis during a job interview because she feared it would hurt her chances.
In a later interview, a manager asked why she had not explained her mood earlier.
The column says people’s willingness to open up depends partly on their personality, past experiences and who they are speaking to.
It also describes two thinking habits that can make people focus too much on the risks of sharing and too little on the costs of staying silent.
Researcher Leslie John argues that opening up can build trust and closer relationships, and may improve well-being.
She recommends weighing the advantages and disadvantages of both speaking and staying silent, while managers should consider sharing some emotions, setbacks or personal challenges.
Sharing personal struggles selectively can strengthen trust and relationships at work, the article says.
People often stay silent because they overestimate the risks of disclosure and overlook the costs of keeping quiet.
The article says personality, past experiences and the person listening can influence whether someone chooses to open up.
A four-part comparison of the benefits and drawbacks of disclosure and silence can help people weigh the choice.
The author recounts staying quiet about a traumatic experience in a job interview, then explaining it in a second interview.
- Who
- Workers deciding whether to share personal struggles, including the author and workplace leaders.
- What
- The article argues that openness about personal difficulties can build trust and improve workplace relationships.
- When
- The article was published on 11 October 2026; the author’s interview experience happened several years earlier.
- Where
- In the workplace, including during a job interview.
- Why
- People may share to build trust and closeness, but often stay silent because they fear negative consequences.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Why did you say nothing in the first interview?
The author accompanied a friend in a mental health crisis and took her to a psychiatric hospital.
The author tried to appear professional and did not explain the shock they were experiencing.
A leader asked why the author had seemed melancholic in the first interview, and the author explained what had happened.
- Publication date
- 11 October 2026
- Author
- Nicole Kopp
- Researcher cited
- Leslie John, a Harvard professor
- Decision tool
- A four-part matrix comparing the advantages and disadvantages of disclosure and silence
Sources
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