Two Mandatory Identities

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Your professional identity is not your personal one.

It’s the identity that you hone in your craft in order to engage with the marketplace.

Think of it like this: McDonald’s has a brand, and they have a service and a product that they provide to the world. Everything that you see from them as a customer and as an investor is professionally crafted.

You likely know very little about the drama that’s going on behind the scenes at McDonald’s, the people's personal lives who are running the organization, their favorite hobbies, how their marriage is going, or anything like that. All of that stuff is personal. That’s the same thing you need to do when you're building your professional identity.

It’s not personal. There’s a phrase these days about bringing your whole self to work. Most people know that’s BS—that marketing is to get employees into your company. Whether it’s Google, Nvidia, Medtronic, Clorox, Apple, or Walmart, you can bring elements that highlight your personality to work. You can talk on occasion about what’s going on socially and politically, but for the most part, you need to bring your professional identity to work.

Work is not the kicking zone, work is not the chill-out zone, and work is not where you find your besties, although you may make good friends at work. Work is where you deliver value to your organization in order for them to maximize profits. You are a cog in the wheel, just like I am a cog in the machine, making it run.

The best cogs, get the best total compensation packages and opportunities to impact the lives of others.

Now you and I are complex, and there are many elements to your professional identity, such as having a network with others, how to build bridges, how to be assertive with your points and viewpoints without alienating yourself, and how to be the best in the world at what you do.

You do not need to tell people at work what’s going on in your personal life. It can be part of your professional identity to do so, but if you do, make sure it’s in alignment with helping you achieve your professional goals. These are usually positive things that are taking place or hobbies that you’re involved in that reflect well on you.

If you’re going through a tough time with an illness or something of that nature, it may be in your best interest to share that with your employer so they know why you’re taking time off or how to best support you. But your work identity is not your personal identity; these are different, and don’t forget it.

Now, I get it; you’re a human being and have human needs. I’m not saying you should hide your true feelings or that you shouldn’t “keep it real.”

But if you’re expecting to go to work and get a hug or a pat on the back just for being you, you’re setting yourself up to be vulnerable and to be taken advantage of if things don’t go your way. You may also begin setting expectations to meet your personal needs at work. Whatever they are, this is a professional environment, and that’s the only reason you’re there.

Now, I know most of your brothers already know this in executive roles. However, it’s a gentle reminder, and we all need gentle reminders. Even brothers in the NBA practice the fundamentals of dribbling and passing, as they are the fundamentals on which everything else is built.

So while you build out your professional identity, you can infuse elements of your personal identity. You can absolutely do that, but make sure that they are well crafted for your ultimate career goals. I’m not telling you to show up as a robot; I’m just telling you to be conscious of your professional identity and to be aware of the differences between your personal identity and which belongs where.

I am asking you to have two different identities in this case, and the reality is that I know that you have many more. Good luck with this. The more you sort these out and clean them up in a professional sense, the more successful you will be in being able to provide value to your organization over the long run.

Written by Jewel Edward Love, Jr.

Founder and Executive Coach, Black Executive Men

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