Professional identity in changing workplaces : Why it matters, when it becomes emotionally imbued, and how to support its agentic negotiations

Abstract

This chapter addresses professional identity in the workplace. The relevance of the topic derives from current trends in working life, in which constant changes require continuous professional identity negotiations. In addition, employees are increasingly obliged to recognise and make visible their professional identity in order to navigate and survive in the complexities of working life. This chapter provides an overview of the conceptual frameworks, topics, and empirical evidence pertaining to professional identity, as presented in workplace learning literature. From this, it provides suggestions for researching and elaborating professional identity, with particular attention to relational, agentic, and emotional perspectives over time. It further opens up discussion on the kinds of workplace pedagogies and practices that might support individuals’ professional identity negotiations amid chaotic working life situations. Overall, this chapter has relevance for scholars and practitioners who seek to research and/or foster professional identity negotiations in the workplace.