When your job is who you are

One of the best protective factors I’ve seen when a career change is less than voluntary is when the person *already* derives their sense of their own identity and value from things other than their job.

Quite often I work with people who are going through a massive career upheaval. Sometimes voluntary – like a longed for retirement, or a move to an exciting new role – and sometimes not so much.

When the “exciting” change is forced upon you, it throws up a lot of challenging questions, and it’s so very much harder when the job is who you are. For years, the job title is your calling card, your calendar is full, the phone never stops ringing, and people defer to your opinion. Until they don’t.

When too much of your identity and value comes from your role or others’ approval, you’re standing on shaky ground. A restructure, a bad review, a change in leadership … and suddenly the foundations wobble.

Work and recognition matter, of course, but they can’t be your only foundation or you are going to find your building crumbling.

How to start building an internal foundation:

• Know and name your values, so you’re guided by principles, not by position, and keep an eye on how truly you’re living them.

• Keep a private record of moments you’re proud of, whether anyone else noticed or not.

• Practise saying no: it’s a surprisingly fast way to learn your value isn’t tied to pleasing everyone.

• Introduce yourself as more than your title - to others and to yourself.

• Put time into identities that can’t be made redundant.

When your identity lives inside you, you can carry it anywhere.

Until next week,

Madeleine

PS If you’d like me to work with you as you navigate who you are as a leader and in life, let me know and please share with anyone you think may benefit.

I help accomplished professionals untangle difficult career questions so they can thrive in work and life.

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