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Are You Generating Value?
Here’s the story of a passionate farmer who breeds cattle, producing only high quality, organic beef. When the time comes to sell the meat, he realizes that all inhabitants of the surrounding villages have become vegetarians, so no-one wants to buy his meet.
What does this mean?
Is the farmer a failure because he cannot sell his meat? Are the villagers bad because they don’t want to buy the meat?
None of these is true
The farmer is offering something very valuable, but the villagers simply do not need what the farmer offers.
The farmer sees the following options:
- Stop breeding cattle and start growing organic vegetables to sell to the villagers. (accomodate his needs to someone else’s needs)
- Look for any kind of buyers in other villages who purchase his meat at the average market price for beef, because they do not care about high quality, organic beef. (under-sell his beef)
- Look for buyers who care about organic, high quality beef, and who are ready to pay what it is worth. (communicate his value effectively to the right target)
In the end, the farmer chooses the option that is best for him.
Of course there could be more options. Which option would you choose?
Reason for this story
This story is about how our perception of what is valuable affects our feelings, as well as our decisions and actions.
This story is also about how theory is different from practice, and here’s why.
Practice and the “tough truth”
Even if options look easy from the outside, when we face similar challenges like the farmer’s, we feel stuck and struggle finding the best way out. Or we simply don’t take action.
Sometimes we stay stuck for years, without realizing that we are missing a great opportunity to generate value for ourselves and others. Following are some examples.
- Szenario 1:
If I work 16 hours a day for you, but I do not provide the results you need, my work is not valuable for you. (Example: Hard-working manager missing the right focus)
Result: I am not generating value.
- Szenario 2:
If I am experienced and skilled, but I don’t manage to communicate how I can help you achieve your goals, you cannot see how valuable I am for you. (Example: Capable manager who fails getting a rise or a new job)
Result: I don’t give each other the opportunity to generate value.
- Szenario 3:
If I am a high performer and help you achieve the results you want, but I under-sell myself, I am probably not fully aware of my value.
Result: I invalidate myself. One day my frustration may affect the quality of my work, so you get less value while I lose self-confidence.
- Szenario 4:
If I am strong and passionate in a certain area, but I decide to work with you in an area where I am average, because I am afraid I might not get a better opportunity, I am probably not fully aware of my value.
(Example: Job seekers who resist focusing on their assets, and apply for “any” kind of job)
Result: I prevent myself and others from generating real value.
- Szenario 5:
If I don’t use my team’s potential, if my team members never get to see “the big picture”, if I don’t tell them why they are expected to do something, and what they get from doing it, I am not really aware of my own value, nor of my team’s value. (Example: I’m sure you know of at least one company like this!)
Result: I prevent myself, my team and my organization from generating value in the long run.
What does “valuable” mean?
Here is a rough definition of “valuable”: Anything that meets my (practical and/or emotional) needs, helps me solve a problem, and provides the results I want.
This is true for me, and it is true for the people I work with.
It all comes down to one question:
- What am I offering that is perceived as valuable?
How You can start generating value
- Find out what is unique and valuable about you – and accept this tough truth: Every person has something extremely valuable to offer others, but only few take time to find out and make it work for them.
- Decide what you want to receive in return – what do you need financially, emotionally, in terms of time, etc. in order to offer value with consistency?
- Find out who would greatly benefit from what you offer – these will be the people and organizations you work for.
- Find out how to effectively communicate the value that you can provide – so you will make it easy for the beneficiaries to find you.
What impact would this have on your career or business? How would your personal life benefit from knowing that your efforts are giving you the return you really want?
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About the author
Myriam Callegarin is an Executive & Business Coach who helps action-oriented managers, professionals and business owners generate value, so they earn what they are worth in a work they enjoy. If you want to find out how you could benefit from her expertise, simply request a free consultation.
Success includes Failure
Do you know of any amazing, successful leader who had a very easy path to where they are now?
If you have ever been wondering whether “you are good enough”, if you have been thinking: “I’ll never make it”, then this video is a little reminder of how failure and defeat are a part of our success.
For Coaches, Trainers, HR Professionals: Tilt360 Leadership Assessment
Take part in the first Certification Class in Italy for the unique Tilt360 Leadership Assessments.
In two full days you will learn how to use this powerful tool for Leadership Development. The class will be lead by Pam Boney, PCC, author of the Transcendent Leadership Model and developer of the Tilt360 Leadership Assessments.
The Certification Class will take place on:
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The Tilt360 Leadership Assessments are based on the
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If you want to learn more about the model, you are welcome to attend a
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Your Interview
Hello!
I’m really curious about your interview. What did it feel like?
What are you finding most valuable about it?
Please post your comments below, I’d love to hear how you are coming along with this little journey.
Thank you and have a great day!
Myriam
The 7 Best Time Management Tips
The way we spend our time has a big impact on the quality of our work, on the results we get, on our relationship with others, and on our personal well-being. In the end, it all comes down to how we decide to spend our time, i.e. on our choices about it, doesn’t it?
There are so many tips on how to “manage time” more effectively, and here is a small collection of my favourite ones:
1. Do it now: Whenever you have something to do (file a document, answer an email, etc.), do it immediately if it requires less than 3 minutes. You will not only save time, but also avoid your mind getting cluttered with “to-do-items” you’ve been procrastinating.
2. Create compartments: Clearly separate work from private life (e.g. no kitchen cleaning during working hours, if you have a home office)
3. Get organized: Sorry, even if you’d like to, you can’t get around this. Store things you use every day in a place that’s very easy to reach. Use folders or boxes “strategically”, so you always know exactly where to find what you need.
4. Automate: Standardise and automate processes as much as possible, creating templates for things you need to do very often. In case of client correspondence, there are many ways to still add a personal touch.
5. Delegate: You’re great at what you’re doing, but I bet there are things you do that you either don’t enjoy, or let’s be honest, you’re not really good at. Focus on what you really enjoy doing (this should be your core business) and delegate or outsource all the rest. Specialists will need a third of the time you spend on this, and the result will most probably be much better!
6. Get a sounding board: Think of a great leader you admire. Who is s/he surrounded by? Great leaders know that they can’t do it all by themselves. They discuss their ideas and challengers with peers, mentors, coaches and thus gain more focus and make better strategic decisions. This helps them use their time much more effectively.
7. Adjust your focus: It’s easy to get caught up in our daily tasks and forget about why we are doing them, and whether this is what we really want. If you find yourself constantly fighting with time management, it may be a sign that you need to stop for a moment and look at what you really want from your work and life, and how you could get it.
Conclusion: You can choose how to spend your time. And if you feel you’re forced to do something you don’t like: why are you doing it? These reasons are making you choose to do it anyway. What could you do differently?
Try this: Bring your awareness to any choices you’re making today. What clothes did you wear? What was the first thing you did when you came into the office? Now, look at the tips above: what action are you going to take to use your time more effectively?
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Taking action
If you have already spent a lot of time looking for effective ways to manage your time with no real success, and would like to finally take charge of this, why don’t you schedule a free consultation to learn how we could help you gain more focus and get organized more effectively?
Simply click here.
And if you have further ideas or time-management tips, feel free to post them below!
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