Lifehack When did you last introduce yourself without your job title?

From: Leon from LifeHack - Thursday Aug 07, 2025 07:19 pm

When did you last introduce yourself without your job title?

Hi there,

56% of leaders hit burnout in 2024—up from 52% in 2023. Even more striking: 43% of companies lost half their leadership teams this year.

Here's a simple test: When did you last introduce yourself without mentioning your job title?

If you had to pause and think about it, you're experiencing something psychologists call "role engulfment"—when your professional identity becomes so dominant that it swallows your sense of self.

The Identity Crisis Behind Executive Burnout

Most people think executive burnout is about working too many hours. The real culprit is "mattering erosion"—losing connection to who you are beyond your role.

Consider Sarah, a VP at a Fortune 500 company. She worked 70-hour weeks for three years, believing that was the price of leadership. When I asked her to describe herself without using work-related terms, she struggled for two full minutes. "I honestly don't know who I am anymore," she admitted.

The data backs this up: 73% of C-level executives work without sufficient rest, creating what researchers call a "social contagion effect" that impacts entire organizations. When leaders lose themselves, their teams feel it too.

The cost is staggering. Burned-out executives cost companies over $20,000 each in reduced performance, increased turnover, and poor decision-making. But the personal cost—losing touch with your core identity—is even higher.

"When you know who you are beyond your role, you stop making decisions from a place of insecurity or ego."

— Identity Recovery Method

The 3-Step Identity Recovery Method

After working with hundreds of executives, I've identified a simple framework that helps leaders reclaim their sense of self without sacrificing performance.

Step 1: Values Archaeology

Most leaders can rattle off their company's values but struggle to name their own. Values archaeology means digging beneath your professional achievements to rediscover what truly matters to you.

Try this: Write down three moments from your life when you felt most alive and authentic. They probably weren't work moments. What values were you expressing in those situations?

Step 2: Role Reframing

The shift from "I am my job" to "My job is one expression of my values" is profound. Your role becomes a vehicle for your values, not your entire identity.

This doesn't mean caring less about work. It means understanding that your job is how you currently express who you are—not who you are entirely.

Step 3: Micro-Identity Moments

You don't need a complete life overhaul. Small daily practices that reinforce your core identity outside of work create surprising momentum.

Examples from Leaders

• A COO who values "nurturing growth" started tending a small herb garden

• A CFO who values "seeking truth" joined a philosophy discussion group

• A CMO who values "authentic connection" began writing personal letters to friends

These aren't major time commitments—usually 15-30 minutes. But they create touchpoints with your authentic self throughout the week.

Take Action Today

Here are three things you can do immediately:

1. Complete a 5-minute "Values vs. Time" audit: List your top three personal values. Then look at your calendar for last week. How much time did you spend on activities that expressed those values outside of work?

2. Schedule one non-work identity activity this week: It can be as simple as calling a friend, taking a walk in nature, or revisiting an old hobby for 30 minutes.

3. Practice introducing yourself without your job title: Try it once this week. Say "I'm someone who loves creating beautiful solutions" instead of "I'm a VP of Operations."

The goal isn't to care less about your career. It's to remember that you're a complete person who happens to do excellent work—not the other way around.