Knowing Your Value

Happy Thursday!  For the month of May, I’m focusing on the importance of maintaining a strong head-space as an org leader in tech.  Here’s what you need to know in under 2 minutes…

What tech leaders should be thinking about this week: Knowing, leveraging, and articulating your top 3 values to the organization.  I recently re-readCal Newport’s “So GoodThey Can’t Ignore You,” all about harnessing the thing(s) you’re really good at professionally.  It’s got me thinking – to win in tech, managers must know where they add the most value (and impact) to the organization and be ready to tell that story clearly and quickly. I think 3 is the right number (it’s tech’s favorite number!) and a mix of hard (technical)and soft (human) is probably best.  These should be natural strengths – stuff that comes easily to you, area(s) where you’ve had past success, and great things that others see in you as well.

Why this is important:  No one loves a “generalist” (for too long).Especially in today’s tech market, leaders who can articulate the specific value that they bring to the organization (in addition to “leading great teams”) will survive and thrive. When organizations change or customers require a new approach, the C-Level will want to know how to leverage specific hard/soft skills in their leaders to win – that information is critical to speedy growth and success. It’s also good mentally to know where you shine, as tech leaders (especially middle-managers) often find themselves in this “generalist”role for long stretches of time. I certainly remember asking myself, “What am I actually good at?” after a particularly long time of managing a large organization.  

Simple “Go-Do’s” for tech leaders/performers:  Spend 15 minutes defining your top 3 biggest values to the organization and how you can convey these strengths to important stakeholders.  Specifically:

·     Use a big program/initiative as a guide and brainstorm where you did you best work. Where were you in “flow” state and/or where did you get the best feedback. Write down a couple different words to describe these strengths.

·     Ask folks around you where they think you shine. Ask them, “If you could use one word to describe my value to the organization, what would that word be (and why)?”

·     Prioritize to get to your Top 3 values to the organization.  Get these down on paper and keep them close to your desk as a constant reminder.  Seeing these everyday will contribute to abetter head-space too!

·     Figure out how you can articulate these impact areas to important people in your business. Literally telling your manager is highly recommended (they need to know!) and see if there’s additional ways to sneak-in this information to those across and down from you as well.

·     Re-visit this exercise 2x/year to ensure you’re staying on top of your game!

Value Add – Additional ways to show-up as a leader:  Don’t forget – Mother’s Day is this Sunday. Enough said!

New/improved dedicated newsletter page!  Know someone who’s looking for quick/easy ways to show-up better as a tech leader/performer? Forward them this mail or have them sign-up directly on the new/improved newsletter page on theEngaged Pursuit website.

Here’s to your Engaged Pursuit!