Do you ever wonder what value you bring to your organization? Or perhaps the value you bring to your co-workers or clients? Developing a solid understanding of what you offer to your organization and industry will open your perspective and anchor the success in your career. Here are three important factors to better understanding your value.
1. Know Your Values (and Your Company’s)
Do your values and the company’s values line up? How do these standards present themselves in your daily work? It may feel strange to ask yourself these questions, but recognizing the fundamentals of what motivates you allows you to better align yourself with your company and boost both your organization’s success and your own!
When a company’s values and goals line up with their employees’, powerful things can happen. The organization gets stronger and more successful. The employee feels empowered and motivated to do great work. Rena Dietrich, of Demand Media, suggests that employees who take pride in their work and believe in what they are doing, make more significant contributions compared to those who don’t have clear values and beliefs in mind. Having a clear vision that employees believe in creates an environment that motivates everyone.
2. Be Curious
Follow a blog within your industry, listen to intriguing podcasts, and seek out the newest industry trends. When you are curious and excited about what you do, it shows in the work you do. Reading 30 minutes a day during a bus commute or a lunch break will give you industry knowledge that not everyone else has. This curiosity gives you an edge and separates you from others in your field.
Some companies provide professional development resources for their employees, but it’s not universal. According to US News, employee-retention experts say that when professional development is supported by the workplace, it helps retain and cultivate top employees.
During the recession, company-sponsored professional development was among the first areas to be cut, a fact that experts say directly relates to shorter employee stays as compared to a few years ago. Taking your professional development into your own hands and cultivating your passion and curiosity for your career will contribute to both your career success and satisfaction.
3. Quantify Your Goals
Do you have goals clearly posted somewhere you can see regularly? Do you know what your department or company goals are? Defining clear personal and professional goals is beneficial for both you and your employer.
Natalie Pratt, at Career Plug, breaks down goal-achieving into three parts: a plan, supporters, and wanting it! Creating goals for yourself with the SMARTER method sets you up for success. Quantifying these goals makes them measurable and attainable. Add these accomplishments to your resume to ensure you’ll stand-out from the rest of the pile.
When your employer supports you and your goals, you can thrive according to your own parameters. Nothing happens without you wanting it, though. Asking yourself questions to check in with your goals and foster your passions gives you the drive to accomplish what you want. These important phases of the goal-setting process work hand-in-hand with your values, what you want out of your career, and how you bring value to your organization.
By exploring more about yourself and aligning your values and goals with your employer, you will boost workplace satisfaction and passion for your career.
How do you represent your values in the workplace? Are you and your organization set up for success?
–> For instant access to Versique’s blogs, great career how-to articles, and industry trends, follow us on Twitter at @Versique and on LinkedIn!
