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

    1

    An enduring identity has three dimensions: Usefulness in the market – Strengths expressed as insights – Alignment with personal values

    U

    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.

    Individual Coaching
    Webinars on career development
    Book a talk

    Skills worth learning to advance your career and professional identity

    1.    Turning your strengths into insights: express insights in ways that demonstrate usefulness in the marketplace
    2.    Introducing yourself with impact, making a strong first impression
    3.    Impactful communication in presentations, emails and day-to-day meetings
    4.    Building trust in virtual meetings
    5.    Preparing for reviews by collecting clear evidence of value, not just subjective / arbitrary adjectives or judgements
    6.    Dealing with difficult people, strengthening self-worth
    7.    Building your professional identity so that others can tell your story
    8.    Engaging your supporters as ambassadors: people who can share your story and open doors to opportunities
    9.    Communicating the value of what you do (vs. your methodology, qualifications or experience)
    10.    Building healthy routines for career-development, self-care vs. being overwhelmed by the day job
    11.    Nurturing your resilience and energy: managing stress and anxiety
    12.    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.

    BOOK A CALL

    ABOUT JOHN NILAND

    Self Worth Academy CEO John Niland

    John Niland is a professional speaker, as well as being a coach, author and guest lecturer at universities and professional associations. He works with professionals to be seen and valued in their work, by building a powerful professional identity rooted in self-worth.

    Some of his key insights include:

    • Energising and re-inventing who we are at work—not just what we do
    • Fuelling professional life on self-worth rather than self-esteem
    • Leading self and others by developing their professional identity
    • Making professional life sustainable and enjoyable, enabling us to work to 75 and beyond
    • Raising the value of our work, as the basis of more opportunity and reward

    In 2018, he established The Self-Worth Academy, a global network of professionals passionate about promoting self-worth (and self-awareness) as a foundation for life and work.

    John is the author of “The Self-Worth Safari”.  Previous books include “Hidden Value”, “Opportunity Conversations” and “The Courage to Ask” (co-authored with Kate Daly). He was a co-founder of the European Forum of Independent Professionals and previous CEO of Education for the Children, which works with families in Guatemala to break the cycle of poverty.

    “Very thought-provoking & useful sessions. Microsoft employees didn’t want the program to end!”

    TINA JAFRATE
    Microsoft UK

    “Great insights for our mid-management team: raising awareness of their value at work, future potential and importance of teamwork.”

    RUTH ESTRADA
    Schuman Associates

    “A clear professional identity has allowed me to add deeper knowledge and insight to my strong delivery / programme management skills.“

    STUART COPLAND
    Founder Stonac Ltd