How Can You Add Value to Your Company

25 Ways to Create Value at Work—According to Bosses

We spoke with nine bosses and asked them about valuation creation at work, what it looks like to them, and how you can create value today. Here's what they had to say.

The world looks different now from how we shop to what we do on the weekends.

Unemployment has skyrocketed, we use the word furlough more frequently, and working from home looks a lot less glamorous than many previously thought. While COVID-19 has shifted us into working in a new reality, what about the people whose work, thus far, has been relatively unaffected?

People are working from home and getting the job done, but are still left wondering in these uncertain times, how do I keep my job? How can I add value at work to show my boss I'm an asset? What do employers like to see, so I can do my best to continue working now and in the years to come?

We spoke with nine bosses and asked them about valuation creation at work, what it looks like to them, and how you can create value today. Here's what they had to say.

What Does Creating Value at Work Look Like to You?

Being a Team Player

"Creating value is more than being good at your job. In my experience, you also need to be a team player, and by that, I mean you need to uphold the purpose and values of your organization through your work and through your interactions with colleagues. You also need to be able to stretch beyond your comfort zone. Teams sometimes must adjust their vision and strategy to align more closely with overall organizational goals. When this happens, you may be asked to take on different projects, and it's important that you are able and willing to do so." - Stephanie, Vice President, Corporate Communications in the Medical Devices Industry

Trusting Your Employer

"Creating value looks like an outward expression of the belief and trust you have in the company's environment and future. Behaving like you truly care and are engaged with your position brings value to your job and to the company." - Jennifer, Office Manager in the Dental Industry

Communication

"During COVID-19, value creation has been centered around one's ability to communicate and remain calm and collaborative. Within the Food and Beverage industry, supply chains are being stressed, and hard decisions are having to be made (allocation and shorting of customers, delays, transit issues). How employees respond to this pressure and communicate internally and externally sets them apart and makes them pivotal to the stability of the organization." - Angela, Key Account Manager in the Food Ingredient Industry

Contributing in a Meaningful Way

"It means contributing in a meaningful way that accelerates or sustains company growth. So, not just doing your job, but doing the job that matters!" - Solu, Director, Business Operations in the Technology Industry and Executive Coach

Being Flexible

"As a hiring manager, I've had the chance to work with strong players, but the ones that stand out are the ones that can work with a bit of ambiguity and not have all the answers and communications completely spelled out. Mainly because everything that is happening now is new and can change in an instant. Being able to just ask the questions collectively helps us discuss what may be around the corner. " - Ginny, Director of Recruiting in the Technology Industry

Considering Internal and External Stakeholders

"I think of value creation in two parts for both internal and external stakeholders. Value is created for our customers by providing solutions to their problems and top-notch service. We put the people back in recruiting and make it a human experience. Internal value creation comes from team collaboration, training, demonstrating our core values, and participating in process improvement initiatives." - Suzanne, Partner in the Recruiting Industry

Thinking Critically

"Being able to critically think and not just be a task rabbit. If I give a member of my team a project to complete, I want and need them to look at it from every angle. They need to be able to efficiently execute the task and hopefully do so without a tremendous amount of guidance and hand-holding. They have to be able to critically think of what is being asked of them and have the confidence and autonomy to complete the task. Now more than ever, that is valuable." - Erin, Events Director in the National Education Nonprofit Industry

Finding and Keeping Business

"Right now, creating value is all about seeking new business and keeping existing business. Many of our marketing programs were canceled or postponed for Q2 and Q3. In order to keep the business afloat through 2020 and beyond, we need to make up some of that work in Q3 and Q4." - Brielle, Digital Marketing Manager in the Marketing and Advertising Industry

How Can Employees Create Value at Work?

Be Positive

"By coming to work engaged and ready to support the team or the systems, they are bringing vibrance and energy that can be felt by customers and their peers. That attitude and positivity is a value that can't be taught, but when present is one of the most powerful things an employee and effectively a company can possess." - Jennifer, Office Manager in the Dental Industry

Be Electable

"An employee can stand out by being electable. To be electable means not only mastering your job, but always raising your hand to help others and take on additional tasks. Employees stand out when coworkers can call on them to help. It's never fun to have a teammate that only wants to do their job and go home. After all, we are in it together! However, be mindful to not wear yourself too thin and remember when it's ok to say your plate is full." - Suzanne, Partner in the Recruiting Industry

Be Customer-Oriented

"Finding creative ways to meet customers' demands or being able to defend and explain the reason expectations can't be met." - Angela, Key Account Manager in the Food Ingredient Industry

Be Proactive

"Find something that needs fixing or improving and present ideas on how to do so to your manager." - Anonymous

Be Vocal

"I see a lot of value in employees who say something when they see an unmet need within the team or the organization. You should have the courage to speak up, but before you do, you should give some thought to how that need could be met. Company leaders do not have all the answers—the views of people deep in your teams are valuable." - Stephanie, Vice President, Corporate Communications in the Medical Devices Industry

Be Focused

"Prioritize and communicate what matters and let go of what doesn't. If you are doing the same thing over and over again, that's an opportunity to take a closer look and ask, what value does this bring?" - Solu, Director, Business Operations in the Technology Industry and Executive Coach

Be Forward Thinking

"Look at the week ahead and the projects that need to be completed and offer to take them on. Is there something they know I need to get done but maybe they can take off my plate to further support the team or be prepared for the meeting with the CEO, offer to step up. Also, value can be created in seeking out their own professional development. As a large scale conference events director, our entire team is having to pivot and learn how to move a week-long professional development conference to a virtual experience, so I need my team researching, seeking out knowledge that can help them do their job better. For me, that is huge." - Erin, Events Director in the National Education Nonprofit Industry

Be Creative

"This crisis is calling for creativity. We all need to think about our job and businesses differently. The more new ideas we can bring to the table, the better enabled we will be to save the economy." - Brielle, Digital Marketing Manager in the Marketing and Advertising Industry

What Advice Would You Give Employees Who Want to Go Above and Beyond to Support You, Your Team, and Your Company Right Now?

Have Integrity and Be Authentic in All That You Do

"Represent yourself with consistency—be the same with people at all levels of the organization. Also, make sure the ideas you're promoting, and the decisions you're making are best for the company and not just best for you individually. Your goals and the goals of the company should be aligned." - Stephanie, Vice President, Corporate Communications in the Medical Devices Industry

Find Ways to Reduce Stress

"Your manager is likely stressed (as are you!). Finding ways to reduce that stress by proactively finding opportunities for your team will go a long way" - Anonymous

Offer to Help

"Check on your peers and offer help when you're available. Even taking a small task off someone's plate may make a big difference for them." - Jennifer, Office Manager in the Dental Industry

Keep Mental Health in Mind

"Don't get caught up or play into the anxiety and office politics. When a problem arises, ask how you can help to solve it. Force the conversation to actionable steps that result in a positive outcome and not just endless talk. This is a great time to step up and show clear and calm leadership during a time of crisis. What I would tell employers is to support employees. Mental health is becoming a HUGE issue in the workplace. Companies are doing everything to pivot and respond but are not recognizing the stress employees are feeling. Employers could provide additional support to all employees by not just giving them mental health days but enforcing that they be taken." - Angela, Key Account Manager in the Food Ingredient Industry

Be Aware

"Stay connected to what really matters. Understand how the company makes money and connect what you do to that." - Solu, Director, Business Operations in the Technology Industry and Executive Coach

Determine Where You Can Fill in the Gaps

"Creating value can mean different things for each organization, depending on the company size and level of maturity in the organization's life cycle. For example, if an employee works for a company experiencing change where morale is down, providing value could be as simple as having a positive spirit and influencing the morale of the team. Positive energy is contagious, and no one likes being around someone who is constantly complaining. Another example could be a company with a great culture but poor processes. Value creation could be in process improvement initiatives. Try to identify what state your company and team is in, and assess where you can provide value to fill in the gaps." - Suzanne, Partner in the Recruiting Industry

Stay Connected

"While working remotely, stay top of mind with your manager. Stay in contact!" - Brielle, Digital Marketing Manager in the Marketing and Advertising Industry

Be Available. Be Interested. Be Eager and Work with Your Strengths

"If you can take killer notes during a meeting, then do so, turn around and add them to the planner board and execute action items without being asked. Stay productive, now more than ever, the principles of GTD (Getting Things Done) are needed. Don't get sloppy. Manage your tasks and your team's projects as efficiently and with as much organization as possible." - Erin, Events Director in the National Education Nonprofit Industry

Start with a "Yes and…" Attitude

"My advice for all employees is similar to what I would say to them before COVID-19. Start with a "Yes and…" attitude. We've been told to learn about boundaries and just say no, but in times like these, it's more important to pivot and go towards projects or challenges that can sharpen a new skill you otherwise would not experience. It will also demonstrate your virtual collaboration skills." - Ginny, Director of Recruiting in the Technology Industry

How Can You Add Value to Your Company

Source: https://www.careercontessa.com/advice/25-ways-to-create-value-at-work-according-to-bosses/