I started to write this when I was considering what professional development I need to undertake, while I was researching what options were available I found myself pondering an article about giving up alcohol and wanting a new label – ‘teetotal’ not being acceptable or having the wrong connotations.  Having got over the glib response that the label should be ‘SMART’, it made me question the role of ‘labels’ and how we use them.

Labels are supposed to provide us with a short cut to understanding something or someone, however, very often they allow us to be lazy or to become discriminatory.  For example, looking at food labels, not so long ago the thought might have been well you will be lucky to find any real strawberries in that jam or just how much sugar!!! Now there is so much information on some packaging that it is overwhelming and we just resort to tried and tested brands.

This made me think that in the rush to differentiate ourselves we are making our labels way too complicated.  In an effort to differentiate ourselves, make ourselves more relevant, more desirable to the next employer we scour course websites, snap up the best deals, align ourselves with the latest methodology and proudly display the latest certification or qualification.  So, if not labels, how about hooks, or handles that allow people to start a conversation about how we can help them?

Returning to my professional development dilemma – What was it that I was seeking when I set out to invest my hard-earned dollars?  Was I seeking to improve myself or was I seeking to get a ‘recognised’ qualification to act as a short cut to how I wanted to be viewed?  In the end, I chose to consolidate my experience with qualifications in subjects and areas that I am interested in, but also want to achieve some ‘professional peer group’ recognition in.  So, what ‘label’ do I give myself based on that assessment – I am ‘indulgent’, or do I have ‘more money than sense’.  I would like to think that it says I am being true to myself and growing myself but at the same time I am recognising that I need to provide signposts that tell other people about my capabilities.  As the year progresses I am sure I will come to see how my decisions are viewed, whether they just act as a complicated label or will they start a new conversation and a new chapter?