Work Identity: Obstacle or Opportunity?

One of the themes that comes up again & again with my coaching clients is identity …. who we are in our work, and how much of ourselves we see in the roles we’ve had.

On one hand, identity can be a source of pride. We put so much of ourselves into our jobs, our businesses, our careers. It feels good when the title or the description matches how we see ourselves, when it’s an authentic expression of our values and talents.

But it can also be an obstacle.

When we want to change direction, the “who I’ve always been” story can feel heavy. A role, a label, a job title… they can box us in, even when our gut tells us something new is calling.

Clients often arrive at coaching with this tension: I’m more than my CV, but I don’t know how to explain it yet.

That’s why my career coaching philosophy is holistic, not just skills & cv’s but real foundations such as:

• Exploring your personal values as an anchor for decision making

• Getting clear on your deeper sense of purpose, beyond just “what you do”

• Learning to see yourself through a new, more compassionate lens

This is where the shift happens. When identity moves from being a barrier (“I’m stuck in who I’ve always been”) to an opening (“I get to choose who I’m becoming”), everything changes.

The truth is, there’s always more in you than you realise.

If you’re standing at the edge of a new chapter and feel torn between “who you’ve been” and “who you might be,” you’re not alone.

A few prompts you might like to reflect on:

• What parts of my work identity still feel aligned with who I am today?

• Where am I clinging to a title or label that no longer feels true?

• If I wasn’t defined by my role or CV, how would I describe myself?

• Who am I becoming in this next chapter, and what values do I want to carry with me?

What difference would it make if you allowed your identity to expand—so it becomes an opportunity for self-expression, rather than an obstacle?

Sarah x