When Your Job Title Doesn’t Tell Your Story - Job Title Vs Roles Incongruence (NLP) Causing Anxiety

More than 1 in 3 employees say their skills or duties aren’t reflected in their job titles. That invisible gap can make career progress feel uncertain. Job Title Roles Incongruence Anxiety NLP

Ever had that sinking feeling when your hard work seems invisible on paper?

Last month, a client walked into a session looking defeated. For two years, he’d been running the show in his startup team - solving fires, delivering deadlines, managing difficult customers, motivating people. And officially? His job title was nowhere close to “Head of Unit. In NLP, this is a classic case of incongruence. Where your internal identity and external reality don’t match. This gap can cause stress, doubt, and fear. And in this case Job Title Vs Roles causing Incongruence resulting in Anxiety.

He asked, what if they just hire someone else? Am I even seen as a leader here?

We unboxed it in the session. And, his fear was real, based on what he was going through. And honestly, it hurt.

Titles are not just words. They change how we see ourselves and how others see us.

And anxiety? Totally real.

Together, we worked on owning his achievements and having that conversation with his skip level managers. Showing up as a leader should be reflected in your title too.

Curious: Have you ever felt “under-titled” at work or worried your real efforts might go unnoticed?

Drop your story or thoughts in the comments.