Written by Jim Babb

Have you ever been asked to provide a professional bio and felt kinda panicky?

I have, and I know I’m not alone. It seems like a simple thing, but putting your skills and achievements into words—unique, accurate words—can be challenging.

So, at our recent quarterly all-hands meeting, we used a fun activity to un-stick our thinking around bios. The idea is that someone else’s POV can be a better way to see yourself.

Here’s how it works. Ask a trusted friend or mentor for 30 minutes of their time. Have them interview you, using these questions as a guide.

• What’s your current position and areas of expertise?
• What are your values? How have they informed your career?
• What accomplishments are you most proud of?
• What motivates you to do your best every day?
• What do you like to do outside work?
• What’s something about you that surprises people sometimes?

Then, ask your friend to draft a short bio based on your responses (you can always revise later). You may be pleasantly surprised by what you see: Your most confident self, minus any ambivalence, doubt, or generic language.