What do you do?
Yeah, I know…you’re a lawyer. Or a training professional. Maybe a partner in a law firm.
But that’s not what I meant. My question wasn’t about getting a short version of your organisational function or your professional title. I asked what it is you actually do. What is your work about? Who do you help? Why? How? Why not others? Or differently? Where’s the focus?
Try to answer in one sentence. If that doesn’t work (it sure didn’t for me), try it in three first and then pare it down to one.
And then say that sentence out lout (maybe at home; or when the door is closed; or under the shower). Does it „work“? Or does it feel weird? Even embarassing? And ultimately – do you want to do what you say you do? If yes, congratulations! If no – try it again. Reformulate. Use different words. Look closer at what you do. Make it sound interesting. Give it a tone, ring and sound that you would be actually willing to say it to someone at a party who is asking you “soooo….what do you do?“ And I’m talking about someone, who’s not in the same line of business.
You might be surprised at what this little experiment can do for your ability to communicate and market what you do, both internally and externally, what it can do for the fun and energy you put into your work, the clarity and decisiveness with which you act…let alone the reaction of the people you meet at parties!
I first came across the basic exercise of formulating „what one does“ in Michael Port’s „Book Yourself Solid“, where it is introduced as part of his marketing system for service professionals (worth a read). I have the impression it can go so much further than that. But then…maybe Michael meant it that way.