Your Job Title Is Not Your Identity — But Try Telling That to Your Ego.

We all nod in agreement when someone says, “Your job title doesn’t define you.” It sounds wise, modern, grounded. We repost the quote, maybe even drop a thoughtful comment under someone else's post about it.

But when the title disappears, when the LinkedIn headline changes or vanishes altogether, the silence is deafening. That’s when the panic kicks in.

I’ve seen it in boardrooms, in coffee shops, in late-night calls from brilliant professionals who suddenly find themselves stripped of the armor they wore for years. “I used to be VP of something important,” they say, almost whispering, like they’re trying to convince themselves that it still means something. That they still mean something.

The truth is, for many, it wasn’t just a job. It was an identity, a structure that propped up their sense of self. A label someone else wrote that somehow became their mirror. And when that label is gone, they don’t just lose a job, they lose themselves.

It’s a quiet crisis, rarely discussed out loud. Because we’re not allowed to admit how much we wrapped our self-worth around a three-word title in bold font. How much we craved that small line under our name on LinkedIn, or how we measured our importance by how many people responded to our emails within five minutes. We attach ourselves to the size of the font in the org chart, the weight of the business card, and the executive assistant who used to guard our time like it was sacred. And when those symbols of “importance” fade, we’re left with the question no one wants to ask: Who am I without it?

I’ve worked with seasoned leaders and emerging talents across continents, industries, and cultures. The pattern is strikingly similar. Many people assume roles that are expected of them. Impressive roles, sometimes significant ones, but they do so while slowly disconnecting from their deeper identity. Somewhere along the way, the mission became the position. The purpose got buried under the performance. And the ego? It got very comfortable with applause.

But here’s something I’ve noticed: the best leaders I’ve ever met never needed a title to lead.

They don’t walk into a room demanding attention. They don’t introduce themselves with four-letter acronyms and ego metrics. They build trust instead of empires. They inspire without authority. They mentor without managing. These people influence because of who they are, not where they sit.

They say things like, “I help teams think clearly,” or “I build systems that make people’s lives easier,” or “I solve human problems with smart tools.” No bravado. No title inflation. Just clarity, purpose, and presence.

The ego doesn’t like this. The ego wants recognition, status, and power. It wants to be VP of This, Head of That, Global Director of Something Impressive. It gets very nervous when you suggest that maybe the badge is just a tool, and not your essence.

And yet, the moment you can look your ego in the eye and say, “Thank you for getting me here, but I’m not going to let you run the show,” something profound shifts. You move from seeking validation to living in alignment. You start building a narrative that can’t be disrupted by a title change, a layoff, a reorg, or even a sabbatical. Because suddenly, your worth isn’t coming from outside. It’s coming from a deeper place.

When someone asks me what I do, I could rattle off titles and companies and career highlights. But I’d rather talk about what I believe in. I believe in unlocking potential, in individuals, in organizations, in systems. I build programs that spark change. I fight for clarity in a world drowning in noise. I mentor not because it’s one of the services we offer, but because it’s who I am.

I’ve worked with people at the top of their game who couldn’t let go of the job title they left two years ago. And I’ve worked with people fresh out of school who speak with more clarity about their mission than most C-levels. The difference isn’t age, experience, or compensation. It’s identity. It’s knowing who you are when the noise fades.

So here’s my challenge to you, especially if you're leading people, hiring talent, or redefining your own path:

🔹 Start valuing the human beyond the headline.

🔹 Invest in identity, not just titles.

🔹 And next time you're tempted to cling to the comfort of a title, pause. Lean into who you are without it.

The next time someone asks you what you do, try not to default to the title. Don’t say “I’m VP of…” or “Head of…” or “Consultant for…” Instead, pause. Think about what you actually do, in the real sense of the word. What you care about. What you solve. What drives you. What you fight for. What you build. And say that.

Because the job title might change. The company might rebrand. The industry might pivot. The org chart might shuffle. But who you are when the badge is gone? That’s your legacy.

And if you build from that place, if you lead from that place, you’ll be the kind of person people follow long after the logos and labels fade away.

If this resonates with you, or with the challenges you're facing in your team or organization, this is exactly the kind of transformation I help leaders navigate. Through my mentoring sessions and in my book Mentoring Winners from Top Execs to Managers, I share practical tools to help you lead with clarity, purpose, and influence, well beyond the job title. Because real leadership begins when the label ends.

Feel free to reach out if you're curious to explore this path for yourself or your company.