Are you bringing value?
“Nowadays people know the price of everything and the value of nothing.” Oscar Wilde
Going to work everyday is something most of us do. Many people I know are not very happy with their jobs. There are expectations that people have as to what their jobs should be like, how others should do their jobs or how they should interact with their co-workers and superiors.
The question I feel that each person who goes into work needs to ask themselves is, ‘Am I creating value in my workplace’?
Well are you?
This isn’t about doing something because you will be promoted or because you are doing something that will make you look good. This is about a feeling. At the end of the day things either feel good or they do not.
If you are working in a toxic environment, it may be impossible to bring value because you are just trying to survive long enough to move on.
But if you are in a place that is stable and not abusive, then you can add value.
What value can you bring?
Focus on task at hand
You can bring focus to the task at hand. It is easy to get distracted by our phones, the latest thing on Facebook or office gossip. by focusing on your task, you can get the work done.
If your work is reliant upon others and that is forcing a slowdown on your work, ask the other person if there is anyway to help. The tendency for a lot of people is to get frustrated talk about the problem and then become angry.
Solution Focused
When you become focused on the solutions it becomes harder to put blame on yourself or others for problems.
Conversation and Constructive Feedback
If you have emailed someone three times and the message is still not clear. Pick up a phone or have a video conference and talk things out. This is a rule adopted by one of my friends that I have decided to use. And it has been helpful.
Having actual conversations with people can add value to communication in the workplace.
At the end of the day…
At the beginning of our day we have a choice to make in every situation we encounter. Whether other people see our value is subjective. All we can do is our own personal best each and everyday.
