The pressure to conform to a dominant group culture or set of practices is a common experience among working professionals. Fitting in can create harmony, alignment, and inclusion in a group. But it also risks suppressing fresh ideas or constructive criticism. Conversely, standing out can help create diversity, widen the view of the group, and deal with varied stakeholders (patients, suppliers, regulators).

In this MIT article, Prof. Peterson and O’Connor weigh up the pros and cons of conformity and provide a roadmap to finding your personal level of authenticity within a group. This forms part of the recommended resources for Module 1 (M1) of the ISAPS L.I.F.T. Program: Leading Self.