Even if you didn’t have kids, you knew yesterday was Halloween. Google posted pictures of #dooglers and #mewglers in costumes. The National Park Service shared a picture of the hockey mask wearing Spiny Orb-weaver (Gasteracantha cancriformis), which spins a web of terror. And Microsoft posted a spooky picture of their headquarters with ghosts in the parking lot and bats flying across a full moon.

It’s a bit of levity. Much needed levity considering the relentless disruptions occurring worldwide from oppressive policies and blatant hate speech to uprisings and wars.

Most companies and institutions, especially those that are public and customer-facing, are careful to present a positive face, rallying for diversity, inclusion, and equity, philanthropy, and sustainability (or at least, energy saving initiatives). The efforts of these endeavors often strengthen preference and loyalty.

Associated with these enterprises, however, are employees, contractors, vendors, management, and boards of directors. Their points of view, learned behaviors, religion, and political leanings may impact what they share about themselves. But, like their personally identifiable information, such as birth year, Social Security number, and address, are private.

During Halloween, people dress in costumes, which may reveal their alter ego. To a certain extent, we wear costumes at work, which conform to the expected facade and enterprise culture. We hide behind these costumes, concerned our true identities will be revealed. This concealment, however, deepens cracks, and instead of discussing and accepting differences, we grow further apart.

It makes me wonder if we had the courage and security to reveal our true selves, would there be less strife in the world?