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.