I think the humble job title has passed its best-by date.

I don’t like being boxed in, so I never really liked job titles.

When I worked at the Unique Broadcasting Company in the 1990s I was fortunate in carving out a unique (!) Ian-shaped role that straddled live events, radio production, a studio facilities business along with any misfit project the CEO didn’t know what to do with. They called me ‘Special Projects Director.’

I didn’t mind that title.

That’s what I do now - special projects.

But there is no single job title that describes what I do. Right now I call myself a ‘storyteller and creative consultant’ but that’s just a conversation opener. I like to play in the sweet spot of these three circles that I've sketched in my notebook.

In the twenty two years since I quit the world of job titles to start my own business, I have been engaged on tens and tens of projects. Everything is a project. Whether a two-year one, or a one-day engagement. Those projects - whether writing a book or running a training programme - define me best.

I’ve always liked to stay plural, having more than one string to my bow, being multidimensional. And whether you work in an organisation or run your own thing, I know that’s true for many others too.

So I think the humble job title has passed its best-by date. And that’s okay. I don’t think we should get too obsessed with nailing what we do in a title. We can’t all be that easily pigeon-holed.

The world of work has changed. We need to change how we communicate what we do.