Hello and welcome back to 1Minute series, I hope you can read till the end, even though it might take several minutes to finish.
In today’s article, we’re exploring a workplace phenomenon that affects more people than we realize —a topic many of us experience but few actually talk about. There is pressure to hide parts of ourselves in a professional setting, a phenomenon known as “quiet covering.”
“Quiet covering” is a term introduced by professor and author Kenji Yoshino. It’s the act of concealing or downplaying aspects of your identity to avoid stereotypes, discrimination, or judgment. It’s a survival strategy to fit into the dominant culture to advance one’s career.
Quiet covering can also include changing how they dress, speak, or even suppressing personal beliefs, interests, and mental health conditions. It is not the end, quiet covering also include hiding the skill and knowledge gaps.
Imagine adjusting your personality like you’d change your outfit, softening your accent, hiding a personal belief, even downplaying your unique interests to blend in, also in the hope of being seen as “professional” enough.
In simple terms, it’s about quietly adjusting to survive. While it might seem like a smart way to navigate a new environment, in the long run, this behavior can significantly affect you.
Some employees even:
- Pretend to understand a system or process to avoid judgment.
- Avoid asking questions for fear of being seen as incompetent.
- Stay silent about struggles that could otherwise be solved with open communication.
This behavior may help them blend in temporarily, but it often leads to deeper issues in the long run.
The Impact of Quiet Covering on Well-Being
Like many coping mechanisms, quiet covering has its pros and cons.
The positive side: It can reflect emotional intelligence and adaptability in new or challenging situations.
The negative side:
- Emotional exhaustion and burnout lead to emotional wear and tear, manifesting as burnout, withdrawal from colleagues, and a profound disengagement from your work.
- High stress levels and anxiety
Living in fear of being “found out” creates a persistent, low-grade anxiety that can escalate to high levels of stress, which might impact your mental and physical health. - Reduced productivity and engagement
The mental energy spent on maintaining a facade could be used for problem-solving, learning, and performing your job effectively. - Slower career development
Hiding skill gaps prevents you from getting the training you need, and a lack of authentic connection can hinder mentorship and networking opportunities. - Disrupted work-life balance
The stress and exhaustion from quiet covering don’t disappear even after you clock out. It can spill over, ultimately affecting your personal relationship and well-being. - Limited creativity and innovation
When you are afraid to show your true self, you also tend to feel scared to share your most unique and brilliant idea. It will limit your creative potential and the innovative contributions you could be making. - Decreased work quality
When people can’t be themselves, they lose not only energy but also authenticity — the key ingredient to meaningful work and collaboration.
How Companies Can Respond
Creating a workplace where everyone feels safe to be themselves isn’t just beneficial for them, but also for your position as their leader and the company’s progress. Here is what you can do to combat this quiet covering:
- Encourage a culture of respect for differences.
Diversity isn’t just about representation, it’s about inclusion and understanding. Actively and vocally encourage a workplace where differences aren’t just tolerated but celebrated. - Create safe spaces for dialogue.
Establish forums or groups where employees can share openly without fear of being judged. - Raise awareness among managers and team leaders.
Equip leaders with empathy training and knowledge on inclusive communication. - Recognize employees for their contributions, not conformity.
Celebrate outcomes, creativity, and effort rather than how closely someone fits a mold. Shift the focus of evaluations and promotions to tangible results and contributions. When people know their work speaks for itself, they feel less pressure to conform.
Quiet covering might help people “fit in,” but it often comes at the cost of mental health and authentic connection. Your unique identity is your greatest asset, not something to be hidden. Striving for authenticity is a journey, and it’s one worth taking for the sake of your well-being and your career.
References:
- Robinson, B., PhD. (2025, September 2). ‘Quiet Covering’: New studies show what else the Gen Z stare conceals. Forbes. https://www.forbes.com/sites/bryanrobinson/2025/09/02/quiet-covering-new-studies-show-what-else-the-gen-z-stare-conceals/
- Aisyah, N. (2025, September 24). Apa Itu Quiet Covering? Fenomena di Kalangan Pekerja Gen-Z. Detikedu. https://www.detik.com/edu/detikpedia/d-8127570/apa-itu-quiet-covering-fenomena-di-kalangan-pekerja-gen-z
- AmberSof – Understanding Quiet Covering: Gen Z’s new trend in the workplace. (n.d.). https://www.ambersof.com/en/updates/understanding-quiet-covering-gen-zs-new-trend-in-the-workplace#:~:text=Quiet%20covering%20refers%20to%20the,or%20even%20mental%20health%20conditions.
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