Four commitments to fuel your professional life

I was asked recently: what requests do you make of people? It’s a question that got me thinking. Beyond sharing information or insights… what exactly am I asking myself and others to do??

As I pondered this question, the word commitment came up more and more. I found myself asking “John, what exactly are you committed to?”? Even before I get to “what commitments do I ask of others?”

Here’s my first attempt to answer these questions. (I would be very interested to hear your answers, too.)

Commitment Level #1: Commit to yourself unconditionally: to your own value and development

Most of our days are filled with all the commitments we give to other people: e.g. to management, clients, deadlines, targets, family, etc. Sometimes, it can be hard to find time (and energy) for the commitments we make to ourselves e.g. to our development. (Even as I write this, I am conscious that I’m doing so at 5:30 pm, after the day’s client work is done. But still… the commitment is there.)?

This is where self-worth is vital. Self-worth can be understood as an unconditional commitment to oneself.? My request—of both myself and others— is to make this an absolute priority, without preconditions. You don't even need to know what your value is at this point. No matter what you’ve tried in the past, no matter what has worked out or not, no matter what is clear or unclear; make a commitment to your own value… even if you cannot see it. Even if you are unsure of what it is or what the next steps are.

See here for self-worth resources and day-to-day practices. ? Upon such a foundation of self-worth, a successful and impactful professional identity can be built.

Commitment Level #2: Become an Explorer of your own value

Most of us are only vaguely aware of a tiny fraction of the value we bring. This applies as much to people in organisations (of all sizes), as it does to independents. In professional life, we move swiftly from priority to priority, rarely glancing at the ripple effects of the work we have done to date. Or might do in the future.?

To find value, you must look outwards, not inwards. More and more, we see a trend where people get trapped in endless spirals of introspection and self-analysis, which rarely leads to real value discovery. You cannot find value by gazing in the mirror, endless reading or studying; you can only find it by engaging with other people.?

The commitment here is to learn how to have “Explorer Conversations” and to ask “value-questions”, rather than just rattle off an expertise story, a list of job-titles, or get stuck in a vortex of introspection.? This exercise is a real eye-opener for most people. If you would like to discover this for yourself, you can make a start here.?

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It's natural to be a bit wary of Explorer Conversations … which is probably why many? people resist doing them. Some worry about what others might say to them. Others may fear they will find no value at all! Still others feel they may be overwhelmed by requests or issues. The irony is that these fears often obscure the greatest asset they could have, in their career or business: i.e. clear sight of the value of their work.

Commitment Level #3: Define your Professional Identity: to what is your work life committed?

Once you are clear about the value you bring—on a firm foundation of self-worth—you are now in a strong position to merge this with purpose and strengths and decide what you are professionally committed to. The key to success here is anticipating the needs of the future, not just meeting the needs of yesterday (particularly relevant in the Age of AI)?

There are many pitfalls to avoid e.g. narrating your career to date, depending on experience or expertise, depending on a diminishing network of people, being replaced by AI, communicating in abstractions or clichés, positioning yourself as a servant… and lots more.?

Building a professional identity is more than just a personal brand. It’s as much about depth of meaning for you, as it is about recognition from others. It’s about bringing fresh insights to the challenges of the world, not just communicating in terms of selfies and personal triumphs. ?

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Once your professional identity is clear, you have fresh energy and motivation. You have a clear compass for navigating uncertainty. You know what you are about and the benefits that brings. You introduce yourself with fresh clarity and confidence.?

Commitment Level #4: Communicate your identity so that others can be your ambassadors?

Once you have defined a clear identity, this equips others to be ambassadors for your talents and your work. This brings a host of benefits, which ripple forwards for years to come. When others are opening doors for you, you are on a path of unlimited opportunity. You can focus on high-value work with ideal clients and organisations. You have more resources and time for your own development. These resources empower you to nurture all of your commitments and to lead others with authenticity.

This puts your entire work life on a more sustainable and enjoyable footing.? Many people spend a lot of their work life in self-promotion. Not only is this hard, it’s also time-consuming. It limits your value, both in geography and scope.?When this burden of self-promotion is removed, a whole new world of opportunity opens up.?

This is particularly relevant for people approaching 50 and above, who are contemplating their future work life.? In an age where people want to (and often need) to work for longer, the value of “sustainable and enjoyable” gets ever more significant.? You don’t want to be rushing around as a servant to others: you want to be valued for your experience and talents.

For individual coaching on communicating your identity, developing your “Signature Story” and structuring a communications plan tailored to your personal situation, book a call here.