How To Be Or Not To Be Perfessional Online by Mark Anthony Dyson

Last summer, I offered Beachside Rehab. Recently, I used the word “perfessional” in context to people sharing their sober status on LinkedIn.

It seems like it splits whether you should or shouldn’t. I err on caution only, as authenticity could be weaponized (and we often see that).

It’s freeing for many people but not for everyone. The peer pressure to do it doesn’t help either. I hope people are 100% if they choose either.

My take on “perfessional”:

personal

professional

confessional

First, I can’t help but say people use “perfessional” as a professional on LinkedIn. Misspellings happen, and we need spell checks at our fingertips.

But I digress. 

I see posts where people are encouraging this new vulnerability as a way to build on their brand. There’s nothing wrong with it being a way to convey a person’s over-arching message in telling their story. 

I’m only convinced telling your story is an employer attraction if it’s an employment story where someone’s skills or personal attributes are the catalysts. Resilience is necessary, but it’s also contextual. Employers need to see it through your story. 

I understand why, for some, “perfessional” is essential:

• It connects you to others in your network.
• It attracts like-minded people to you for support and encouragement.
• “Perfessional” breeds collaborations. 
• No one can copy your story, even if they copy what you’ve written. 

Remote work has ushered in the need to convert your online network to your coworkers. Many people are comfortable with it, while it scares others. 

Then again, someone’s “profession” has become someone’s trauma. Wow (What did I say?)!