Part of "just being yourself" is to follow those natural primate instinct to go along, get along, evaluate, adapt and fit-in. That's a good and useful thing. Th

Part of "just being yourself" is to follow those natural primate instinct to go along, get along, evaluate, adapt and fit-in. That's a good and useful thing. The time when you'll most be "yourself" is in these novel situations. For most people new challenges bring out their best sides. The time when people are least "themselves" is when we're entrenched in established groups, trying to stay "Liked", following the group-think, not risking status, saying what we think people want to hear. The risk of being excluded from an existing group as a "defector/traitor" feels much worse than of "not being accepted as an outsider" when approaching a new group since we expect some latitude. Being the new kid can give you some charm and opportunity. However, it's within existing, rigid structures that speaking your mind (against consensus) can have the most extraordinary effects. It's a huge risk and a fine balance, but someone who has earned respect, and has "standing", can be themselves while also being part of the team then they have become something much more - a leader.