Mitch Wasden— chief executive officer at Ochsner Medical Center in Baton Rouge, Louisiana—recently posted an interesting article on the Harvard Business Review Blog Network about ‘Identity’. Those of you familiar with The Power of Professionalism know that one’s ‘professional’ identity is at core of my new book. ‘Professional’ , as I point out in my follow-up comment to Mitch’s article on the HBR site, is really a ‘super identity’. It’s unique. Check out Mitch’s article–along with my comment. I’ve also re-printed my comment below:
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“Identity, indeed, is at the root of so many of one’s decisions and subsequent actions. And Mitch is right that identities can work at cross purposes. It’s my view there’s one identity In the workplace that trumps all others—that of being a professional. It’s like a super identity. It’s powerful because it truly identifies who you are — not what you do. This helps minimize the cross-purpose problem.”
“After all, isn’t that what an identity is supposed to do….give us a clear picture of who we are…as opposed to what we do ( being an ‘expert’, being an accountant, etc). Too often our identities are centered on what our vocation or expertise is (what we do). Do those Identities drive our decisions and actions? Absolutely! But…
…it’s my view it’s more important to be a professional who happens to be an expert….more important to be a professional who happens to write code…be a nurse…or be a CEO for that matter. The reason is simple….it’s because of how the professional thinks…the professional holds certain mind-sets.”
“For instance, a professional realizes they’re part of something bigger than themselves–and they act like it. So take the expert in the meeting in which he’s challenged. Sure his ego is going to take a hit….but which identity would you prefer the individual to hold in that situation…”I’m an expert” or “I’m a professional who happens to be an expert”? Which identity would contribute to a more constructive outcome–for the individual expert as well as the group collectively? Which identity would help avoid a contentious confrontation? Which identity would best aid a constructive conversation? Which identity is going to help the ‘expert’ bring out his ‘best self’ in that situation?”
“I’ve found that it’s the latter —“I’m a professional who happens to be an expert”. The professional knows by default (because of being part of ‘something bigger’) that “I’m a team member”—and (generally) they act accordingly. This is why one’s ‘professional’ identity trumps other, arguably more tactical, ones.”
NOTE: I’ve identified seven mind-sets held by trusted professionals…the one above, plus six others. .
“Unfortunately, too often we’ve forgotten what it really means to be a professional. Consistent with that, I’ve also found that few hold ‘professional’ as a core part of their identity. That’s unfortunate, but it’s something I’m working on.”
Bill Wiersma, Author– The Power of Professionalism (2011)