Do You believe in Your Professional Story Credibility?

On a 1-10 (poor-great) scale, do you believe in your professional story credibility? You know, the “you” story which comprises your LinkedIn profile and professional resume. Or how you respond to the question: “What do you do?”

What story do you tell: to clients, colleagues and recruiters? Is your story too good to be true? Or is your story compelling and inspiring?

Do you leave your professional story credibility in the hands of others?

When I work with groups on purpose-driven professional branding, we focus on telling a story, about you. Instead of providing a list of academic degrees, certifications and job titles. Regardless of your job title, pay grade, level of education or generation.

Why? Because by centering you on your professional purpose, you discover that you are far more than a list. Of what you do. For someone else. Right now.

Often, during these workshops, I hear from professionals, like you, who are searching for their next job. Or, even their next career. Equally often, they ask internal mentors, or hire professional profile writers, to create their resumes. While internal mentors and professional writers arrive at incredible profiles for their mentees and clients, often that profile feels neither comfortable to you, nor believable.

When you leave “you” in the hands of others to create either their vision for you or their perception of you, you do yourself (and them) a great disservice. Because you do not do a credible job telling these professional colleagues your own story, in the first place.

Do you trust in your professional story credibility?  

When you take the time to gain a deeper understanding of, and belief in, your professional story credibility, good things happen. Even if you end up with four different resumes which target four different industries, there is a common denominator running through all of these profiles. What each of your profiles leverages is your purpose-driven professional story.

Because you cannot help yourself. You bring the same professional story into each job you take and project in which you participate. In fact, your purpose-driven story represents the differentiated value you bring to your organization’s table. Time after time.

Ask yourself whether, or not, you trust the credibility of the professional story you tell the world? Or, are you copying a formula that worked for someone else and hoping it works for you? Then again, does your profile(s) make you feel like an impostor?

At the end of each day, you are accountable for the professional stories you tell.

Take ownership of your professional story credibility. Take the next steps.

• Planning your next corporate or association meeting? Engage me to present one of my Storytelling for STEM Professionals and Left Brain Thinkers speaking programs, workshops or moderated facilitation services. Contact me here.
• Download my new checklist and worksheet: Six Professional Development Targets to Hit each Month.
• Subscribe to my blog. Share your email address in the red box in the right column of this blog. Never miss another insightful post.

Babette Ten Haken’s One Millimeter Mindset® Storytelling Speaking Programs, Workshops and Facilitation Services leverage storytelling for STEM professionals and left brain thinkers to catalyze employee and customer success and retention. She motivates individuals and teams to combine courage, curiosity and critical thinking skills to co-create compelling stories which inspire trust in one another. Especially in industries with STEM and left-brain stakeholders.

Find out more about Babette’s professional story here. Babette is a member of SME, ASQ, SHRM and the National Speakers Association. Her playbook of communication hacks, Do YOU Mean Business? is available on Amazon.com. Babette’s speaker profile is on the espeakers platform. Contact Babette here.

Image source: Adobe Stock