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Building a better work-life.
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Happy almost-Friday!
“Who am I to call myself that?” was the powerful question that emerged during our kick-off Paid Pod session this week.
The person who asked it – an accomplished entrepreneur transitioning to the corporate world – confessed something I’ve heard (and felt) countless times: “I feel awkward claiming this title when I haven’t officially held it before, even though I’ve done all the work.”
This internal resistance to owning your professional identity isn’t just imposter syndrome – it’s an existential question about authenticity, integrity, and self-belief.
Or is it?
Your professional identity is just ONE aspect of who you are, it’s not your entire self-worth or being.
Determining what to “call yourself” professionally is playing a game within a specific context – and part of that game is learning to articulate your value in language that resonates with those who need your skills.
Your professional identity is not an absolute declaration of your worth, but rather, a strategic community tool to get paid for your work.
The Identity Gap
Tell me if you’ve asked yourself: What if they discover I’m not really who I claim to be? Am I misrepresenting myself?
If this sounds familiar, you may be struggling with what I call the “identity gap” – the space between:
- Who you functionally are (based on what you actually do)
- Who you’re officially recognized as (your formal title)
- Who you believe yourself to be (your internal identity)
When these three elements aren’t aligned, it creates a tension that can manifest as resistance, uncertainty, or even self-sabotage.
Here’s the breakthrough realization that changed everything for me: Your professional identity should be based on function, not title.
What matters isn’t the titles you’ve formally held, but the work you’ve actually done and the value you’ve delivered. Titles are just imperfect shorthand for describing capabilities.
Think about it:
- The startup founder who built an entire marketing department has functionally been a marketing director, whether that title existed or not
- The project manager who transformed company operations has functionally been an operations leader
- The executive assistant who manages complex client relationships has functionally been an account manager
When someone asks, “Who are you to call yourself that?” your answer isn’t about titles you’ve held. It’s about results you’ve delivered and challenges you’ve overcome.
To be clear, this isn’t about claiming something you haven’t done – it’s about accurately representing the work you have done, regardless of what your business card said at the time.
How to Bridge the Identity Gap
Here are three practical steps to help you claim your rightful professional identity without that nagging sense of fraudulence:
1️⃣ Map Your Functional Reality
Make a list of everything you actually do, regardless of title. Focus on outcomes, not activities. Instead of “managed social media,” write “built brand awareness that drove 30% traffic increase.”
Ask yourself:
- What problems have I solved?
- What systems have I built or improved?
- What outcomes have I delivered?
This evidence-based approach grounds your identity in reality, not perception.
2️⃣ Find Your Thread
Identify the consistent theme running through your work – your “golden thread.” This isn’t about job titles but about your unique approach to solving problems.
For example:
- Do you consistently transform chaos into order?
- Do you bridge technical and human understanding?
- Do you see patterns others miss?
This thread is the core of your professional identity, regardless of the specific context in which you apply it.
3️⃣ Practice Your New Language
Start small. Try introducing yourself with your functional identity in low-stakes environments. Pay attention to how it feels in your body. Does it create tension? Where?
Say it until it feels natural. The more you articulate your functional identity, the more it becomes integrated into your self-concept.
Remember: This isn’t about claiming expertise you don’t have – it’s about accurately describing the value you bring without diminishing yourself.
Signal of Growth
If you feel like you’re claiming something bigger than what you’ve done before, see it as a positive sign. That gap means you’re challenging yourself to grow. You’re throwing the ball a bit further than you can currently catch it – and that’s exactly how we expand.
You’re declaring not just what you’ve done, but what you’re becoming.
As one participant in the Pod beautifully put it: “I need to wrap my mind around embodying new identities that I am at my core, but perhaps haven’t fully labeled myself as yet.” ::Chef’s kiss::
That’s the essence of growth – stepping into the next version of yourself before it feels completely natural.
Stay focused on the belief that you can – and will! – figure it out.
Your Turn
What professional identity have you been hesitant to claim? What functional work have you done that deserves recognition, even if you never had the formal title?
I’d love to hear your thoughts on navigating the identity gap. Reply to this email or comment on LinkedIn – I promise to reply.
x Claire
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