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The 8th Tenet of Better Engaged Employees is about creating value. What do we mean when we say ‘create value’?
Creating value is the act of providing an extra feature or benefit that has little or no associated cost(s), is meaningful to the customer, and goes beyond the customer’s current level of expectation.
Let’s look at creating value from three perspectives: individual, company, and customer.
Individual
Taking care of your customers, teamwork, respecting coworkers, etc., may come to mind when you think about some of the bigger ideas around adding value.
What about personal development? How does developing yourself create value?
Personal development activities make you better as an individual and as an employee by improving what you know about yourself and honing your current skills. It is your responsibility as an individual to understand your strengths and weaknesses and to identify opportunities for further development. It is quite possible that you’ll discover a talent you didn’t know you had.
Many companies provide learning opportunities through classes (online, virtual, and classroom), programs, assessments, etc. Take the lead to discover what learning opportunities are available. Once identified, take advantage of them in order to build on your strengths and to improve on your weaknesses.
You can’t rely entirely on the Company for development opportunities. You will need to look outside the organization. Lynda.com, Udemy.com, Coursera, KahnAcademy.org, and the offerings of professional organizations are a few examples of places to find additional learning opportunities.
If you are more of a hands-on learner, you can develop your skills by volunteering. Your company may have volunteer opportunities as part of their ongoing commitment to the local community or global initiatives. Again, remember to look for additional volunteer opportunities outside of your organization. The following sites can be helpful: VolunteerMatch, Idealist, or Taproot Foundation.
For a less formal option, you can learn more about your industry and role by reading related books and publications or through networking meetings. And don’t forget that another way to provide value is by sharing what you learn with others.
It is up to you to keep your skills current. Set long- and short-term goals for yourself. Continuous learning is everyone’s responsibility. Self-development activities can set you apart and help you become more valuable to your Company by being better prepared for future advancement opportunities. Your customers benefit because you are more knowledgeable and better able to meet their needs and expectations.
Company
If someone asked, could you provide them with a brief history of your Company?
The vast majority of employees chose to work for a company because of what it represents and where it is going. They want to help the company to continue its success and want to be part of moving the company forward. As an employee, the company history provides context around where the Company is today by describing how it got there. It often contains cultural clues and helps employees understand current business practices.
While many companies share their history on their website, employees should receive a more in-depth understanding as part of their onboarding experience so that they can better acclimate to the Company’s culture.
Since a Company’s history focuses on the past, it is important to consider the Company’s future as well by being aware of its long-term and/or short-term goals. Knowing these goals helps employees understand the direction of the Company and empowers employees to make decisions that positively impact the Company and its customers.
A company’s history might also provide additional customer engagement opportunities. Sharing the Company’s story may provide some personal meaning or connection to the customer.
Customers
It is the customers that will ultimately determine your success. In the end, you and your company are there to create value for them. It is important to recognize that as we improve as individuals and as a company, our customers are the ultimate benefactors. We are better able to understand their needs, meet their requests, and recognize ways in which we can exceed their expectations.
Summary
You are responsible for creating value for yourself, your Company, and your customers. Take the initiative to continually improve your skills and abilities, reflect on your Company’s history and goals, and keep your customers in mind at all times.
Developing yourself makes you more marketable as an individual and increases your value as an employee. Understanding your Company’s history and goals enables you to better recognize opportunities to create value for customers.
Over the next week, read or re-read your Company’s history and goal, consider what value you as an individual bring to the Company and your customers, and develop your own long-term and short-term self-development plans to ensure that you continue to provide value.
Let’s Engage!
I’m Agent in Engagement Simpson…Gregory F Simpson.
I’m excited about this opportunity to connect with fellow “Agents.” Subscribe to the RSS Feed to receive the latest updates and/or register to comment on posts.
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Email me at g…@a…t.com.
Learn more about me at www.gregoryfsimpson.com.
P.S. First time here? Welcome to the Agent In Engagement site. Thanks for taking the time to stop by! I hope you’ll explore the rest of the site. Let me know what employee engagement topics interest you.
Other recent Agent in Engagement articles by Gregory F Simpson:
- Employee Engagement Briefing for Week of December 1 – 5, 2014
- The 7th Tenet of Better Engaged Employees – Skip Satisfaction, Exceed Expectations
- The 6th Tenet of Better Engaged Employees – Know Your Customer and You’ll Be Rewarded
- The 5th Tenet of Better Engaged Employees – Feedback from Customers is a Gift
- The 4th Tenet of Better Engaged Employees – Customers Define Quality and Service
