“If you are not consistently looking for ways to bring more value to your work, you are simply taking up space!” ~ Joe Contrera
What is the first thought that comes to mind when you hear the word – quality?
Is it something that you look for when buying goods or services? Or is it something you think of in regards to the qualities of a person?
Quality, whether you use is as an adjective to describe something or as a noun to speak to a specific characteristics of an individual it refers to excellence or value.
What About You?
So when it comes to your qualities (the value/excellence) you bring to your work, how would you describe it? More importantly, how would others describe your qualities?
If as a consultant, speaker, author, or coach, if I cannot help my clients reduce cost, improve productivity, shrink waste, reduce stress, help them get out of their own way, then I am not providing value. And when folks in my profession don’t provide value they don’t eat – simple as that!
Bit the same concept applies to you as a leader or an employee. If you are not finding ways to do some of the things I mentioned previously you are not providing value. And when things gets tough, you will be the first ones to be exited from the business.
What Are You Doing to Increase Your Value?
Year ago I listened to a fellow speaker who was incredibly talented, extremely intelligent, and a self a self-described introvert deliver an amazing keynote. During his breakout session which followed he had a Q & A session.
During the Q & A a younger speaker who was new to the business who apparently admired his qualities asked him this question, “How is it that you can be such an intellect and an introvert, but yet you speak with such casual easiness?”
His response was astonishing. He replied, “I have spent tens of thousands of dollars and hundreds of hours working to be able to come up here and do this, so please don’t think it is easy!”
That Looks Easy?
So many of us watch professional athletes or musicians and gawk at the amazing ease at which they perform and yet we never see the years of hard work, the 10,000 hours of practice, or the countless hours in the gym. We never really see the blood, sweat, and tears it took to get to the point of making it look…easy.
You see making it look easy is the sign of a true professional. And it doesn’t matter if you are a leader, a salesperson, an accountant, a production supervisor, if you want to be of great value, you have to work on perfecting the qualities that make you a true professional in your field!
So what are you working on to increase your value?
What are you working on so hard that when people see you at your craft they say…you make it look so easy!
