Build Professional Identity
The pandemic has changed how people view their priorities and their working lives. Many are reappraising: not just their career—but their very identity at work.
“Life isn’t about finding yourself. Life is about creating yourself.”
– George Bernard Shaw
Just a few of the current career issues, impacting both staff and freelance professionals:
- What am I known for? How to tell the story of my various roles?
- Uncertainty about the future, how to navigate the changes?
- Virtual working: effects on recruitment and organisation structure
- Exhaustion, overwhelm, dealing with a bewildering array of choices
- Loss of energy, sense of isolation
- How do I future-proof my career? Prepare for my next role?
- Re-inventing my career for more satisfaction and meaning
- Specific challenges for students and young professionals whose career-development has been impacted by the pandemic
- Over 50s: reinventing a new career
Just a few of the career issues, impacting both staff and freelance professionals:
- What am I known for? How to tell the story of my various roles?
- Uncertainty about the future, how to navigate the changes?
- Virtual working: effects on recruitment and organisation structure
- Exhaustion, overwhelm, dealing with a bewildering array of choices
- Loss of energy, sense of isolation
- How do I future-proof my career? Prepare for my next role?
- Re-inventing my career for more satisfaction and meaning
- Specific challenges for students and young professionals whose career-development has been impacted by the pandemic
- Over 50s: reinventing a new career
Key SWA Insights / Approach
Roles, job-titles and services all change: but your professional identity is yours forever
An enduring identity has three dimensions: Usefulness in the market – Strengths expressed as insights – Alignment with personal values
Self-worth changes how you see each of these dimensions. Most people are stuck in self-esteem mode e.g. preoccupied with their credibility
A clear identity enables you to engage supporters as ambassadors, helping you to unlock new opportunities and changing how you communicate
Services for Independents and Entrepreneurs
A deep sense of self-worth is a rich foundation for a strong professional identity, which in turn informs your career- (and business-) choices and engages others in both leadership and professional settings.
Skills worth learning to advance your career and professional identity
- Turning your strengths into insights: express insights in ways that demonstrate usefulness in the marketplace
- Introducing yourself with impact, making a strong first impression
- Impactful communication in presentations, emails and day-to-day meetings
- Building trust in virtual meetings
- Preparing for reviews by collecting clear evidence of value, not just subjective / arbitrary adjectives or judgements
- Dealing with difficult people, strengthening self-worth
- Building your professional identity so that others can tell your story
- Engaging your supporters as ambassadors: people who can share your story and open doors to opportunities
- Communicating the value of what you do (vs. your methodology, qualifications or experience)
- Building healthy routines for career-development, self-care vs. being overwhelmed by the day job
- Nurturing your resilience and energy: managing stress and anxiety
- Being an effective mentor / leader: a model among peers
The above skills are also useful for students, considering their “pre-professional identity”.
To discuss your next career move in confidence, or a session with your team, book an exploratory individual session with John Niland or one of the other associates.
ABOUT JOHN NILAND
In an age of AI and global upheaval, John helps people regenerate their professional identity from a foundation of self-worth—so that work strengthens identity rather than eroding it.
Identity regeneration is the work of reconnecting with what is most valuable and distinct about you, then bringing it more fully into your work, relationships and reputation. John’s approach helps people bring fresh value to life and work by:
communicating fresh insights rather than endless “me-stories”
replacing the need for validation with courage, confidence and creativity
turning the hunger for belonging into a deeper connection with oneself and others
building a reputation that opens doors, making work more sustainable and enjoyable
John is the author of The Self-Worth Safari and founder of Self-Worth Academy, an international community of practitioners exploring the power of self-worth.
His previous books include Hidden Value, Opportunity Conversations and The Courage to Ask, co-authored with Kate Daly. Since 2000, John has spoken at professional conferences and coached hundreds of professionals to grow their revenue and reputation through an approach grounded in professional identity.
He co-founded the European Forum of Independent Professionals and was previously CEO of Education for the Children, which works with families in Guatemala to help break the cycle of poverty.
John lives just outside Lisbon, after many years in Brussels, London and Ireland. He still talks about “settling down one day.”
“Very thought-provoking & useful sessions. Microsoft employees didn’t want the program to end!”
TINA JAFRATE
Microsoft UK
We use cookies on our website to provide you with the best possible user experience. Please accept all in order to ensure functionality of elements such as FORMS, BUTTONS and VIDEO. By continuing to use our website, you agree to the use of cookies as described in our