I have worked in end of life care for years. It’s more than possible, I think it’s almost instinctive in some cases. A survival mechanism, if you will.

I think it is very possible. It is important not to expose the white underbelly to the vicissitudes of the workplace.

Of course, this is not a new concept. Becoming someone you don’t want to be is a part of being an effective leader or just a part of having a job in general. I can’t be a vehement atheist when I work with religious people that comment about god because there’s no reason to and it will just create unneeded tension, plus it’s immature.

Some places you have to.

Not just possible, I’ve seen them in action. An off duty police officer was having a pleasant chat with me one evening when I worked as a cashier. A man parked his truck blocking the view of the pumps. I asked him to move and her refused. i asked nicely four or five times and he just kept refusing, though I explained that I would be held responsible for any drive-offs. The police officer jumped in and just got red in the face, raised his voice and explained that if he didn’t move there was going to be a problem. The man opted to move. The policeman turned back to me in a completely normal tone and just went back to our conversation.
I’ve seen Navy chiefs do this too, almost like “On cue” in a stage performance. They are convincing and very vocal but in another second can carry on like nothing happened.

I agree with Captain_Fantasy and Trillian. For instance, in the medical field it would be hard to survive emotionally without knowing how to do so.

I would call it ’code switching’ instead of developing a new personality. There are different codes of conduct for different situations.

When I was driving ambulance, I had to. It is hard enough treating scared, hurting people when you can emotionally detach. I can’t imagine trying to do it with my ‘heart on my sleeve’.

Im with @WestRiverrat on this one. I have been an EMT and a Firefighter for some time now and I have to make sure that work is work and I do not take it home with me. I have had days where my shift is almost over and we get a call for an MVA (motor Vehicle accident) and there are fatalities, if I show up on scene and show my emotions then I am not capable of doing my job to the best of my abilities. At the same time if I go home and dwell on what I had seen then I will not be able to live my life to the fullest.

It is totally not BS, I myself have have a “work” personality. Because of the industry I work in, a soft happy go lucky lady might not be taken serious. My primary customer base is male, and they need to feel confident in the fact that when they hear my stern professional tone they know they are getting the right item they are looking for.

I rarely get second chances to make a good impression so I try hard to get it right the first time, so that I can continue to build on to my customer base.

I tend to be unsure that people aren’t just putting up with me in real life. It’s hard for me to imagine they actually want to be with me or do things with me.

In work life, I can act totally confident. I can sell just about any idea. So long as it’s not my idea and so long as it isn’t for something that will benefit me. It is so weird, because every time I do convince someone to do something, it amazes me. Every time someone tells me I’ve done a good thing, it amazes me. It’s as if they are talking about a different person, and of course they are.

I am very different in my personal and professional life, if that is what you are asking.

Yes, this is very possible and highly recommended. If I was as generous at work as I am with my family and friends, I would be dead right now. When I go to work, a pack of wolves surround me and they all want something. If I don’t defend myself against them (by sometimes being rude and direct) they will run me into the ground.

Yes, and can be done for a variety of situations, for a variety of reasons.
Called ‘compartmentalizing.’