Exploring the sense of self in the workplace

This inductive study utilized a multi-method qualitative research approach drawing heavily on phenomenology and grounded theory to explore phenomena associated with the sense of self in the workplace. The first objective was to explore whether female employees in the computer industry felt free to bring a more holistic (fuller) sense of self to work, the degree to which they experienced having to negotiate between inner, outer and/or fuller sub-personalities, and if so the essential characteristics associated with these sub-personalities. The second objective was to determine the usefulness of traditional theorists in general psychology and specifically psychologies of the self (e.g., William James, 1809; George Herbert Mead, 1934; and Carl Rogers, 1961, etc.), as well as, the more speculative non-traditional race and culture centered theorists (e.g., Wade Nobles, 1986; and Francis Hsu, 1985, etc.) in explaining and/or interpreting participants' self-referent statements.; There were four major study findings. First, all respondents reported utilizing a differentiated sense of self at work. Second, a rich description of the inner-outer-fuller sub-personalities of self, was obtained. Third, the structure of the negotiation process was delineated. Fourth, women across race (African-Americans, White Americans and Asian-Americans) described their sub-personality components, and the negotiation process differently.; Two theoretical implications were suggested. First, an explanation of respondents' self-referent statements required the use of both traditional and nontraditional theorists supporting my assertion of the usefulness of a broader theoretical perspective which includes race and culture specific theories. Second, Wade Nobles' (1986) concept of "we-ness" as a third dimension of self versus the traditional "I" and "me" selves was supported in respondents' fuller sense of self descriptions, particularly for African-American and Asian-American women, and further research appears warranted.; Three practical implications emerged. First, the picture box collage data collection motif proved useful in eliciting rich descriptions of the sub-personalities. Second, workplace factors conducive to acting from one's fuller self had features characteristic of high performance and valuing difference work environments. Third, the capacity to operate from one's fuller sense of self may be amenable to coaching and as such could have meaningful educational and mental health implications.