Identity, Professionalism and the Digital Age
In an age of infinite sharing, political correctness and keeping up with the Kardashians every move, it’s often difficult to decipher where the lines lie between acceptable, inspirational and honest. In the past, oversharing was seen as a taboo in the workplace, sharing too much about personal ideals, interests and experiences could prove detrimental to professional growth and networking.
Presently, 6 in 10 online adults use Instagram and 95 million photos and videos are shared on the platform each day. With such hefty statistics, it is easy to assume that at least 60% of the people you work with use some form of social media on a regular basis. Arguably, you are free to exercise your right to showcase your greatest moments, memories and #outfitsoftheday as you see fit, cultivating your online presence and tailoring your image to appeal to the social media community at large.
But what happens when this behavior doesn’t align with the core values or mission statement of your employer? Is oversharing normalized to the extent of absolving somewhat archaic notions of what is “Professionally acceptable”?
“I honestly think what skyrocketed me into professionalism was learning how to play two people and still live through the day.”
Dove Cameron
Duality
The concept of duality is apparent in all facets of life, nature, the psyche and now (more than ever) social presence. Everyone wants to be liked and accepted to some capacity, whether it be in a professional atmosphere or a purely social interaction. Professionally, being liked and accepted provides us with the ability to network and build reliable bonds with our colleagues. Alternatively, strong social bonds can elevate and accelerate our standing in society and often increase our earning power, career persuasion and presence. So one may ask themselves, how do I present myself to be relevant on all fronts? Let’s get real, without being seen, you cease to exist.
Whom do I want to be?
We are nearing 2020 and in this modern era, social media policies are nearly a given in the rule book of most corporations (You can be seen, but keep it clean). Remember the earlier figure, 6 out of 10 online adults use some form of social media regularly… Recounting those figures quickly brings to mind a few questions, How close are we keeping our professional contacts? Am I surrounded by encouraging and trustworthy colleagues? How much do I want to share about my personal interests and activities outside of the office? Where am I really aiming to go in my career? Who do I really want to be?
In all honesty, not every passion pays the bills. The average person doesn’t have enough cash on hand to fund an advertising campaign that will come near ranking on the first page of Google for any saturated keyword. So who can each of us realistically be? Oversharing can be detrimental if done to a certain extreme, exercising the right to showcase the truest form of our ideal selves can also misalign with the demands of the real world.
A Private Life is a Happy Life…
Yes, privacy is a valued resource and function in a healthy life; nevertheless, restricting self-expression and visibility in the present era can limit certain opportunities and avenues for exploration, and the elevation of self-esteem. We as a people place such value on identity, not only as a means of outward expression but as a means of existence. Popularity seems to be a theme that trails behind each of us from adolescence onward throughout adulthood.
“A career is born in public — talent in privacy.”
Marilyn Monroe
Undoubtedly, the lines are blurred. Personal choices are the only variables that we can attempt to control. Living a life without identity, flair or color is a life unlived. A career fulfills the soul’s urge to contribute only to a certain extent; inversely, indulgence in opulence or contrived facets of our being may fill the void created by feelings of unworthiness in an ever more competitive society.
In short, my only contribution to the notion of a fulfilling existence and identity both professionally and personally is to find neutrality and formulate practices that assist in making good judgments. Give the world something to talk about, make an impact, express your varying opinions constructively and build your character, bonds, and self-esteem in healthy ways, indulge in moderation — after all, life is like a box of chocolates. You never know what you’re gonna get.