The Value Factor

The Value Factor calls for giving beyond expectations. This can include a thoughtful opinion generated from listening attentively or as simple as offering to help someone with a physical task. The Value Factor is a distinguished and deliberate approach in interacting with people. At its core, it’s an approach all about finding ways to serve others…an approach yielding positive gain for all parties.

This article is about being on the side of the solution; helping others while subsequently bettering your own position by creating a value enriched environment.

How I Discovered the Value Factor

The Preface…

My discovery of the Value Factor came to me in my first job after graduating from college in 2003. I entered the workforce with an abundance of confidence…confidence that quickly turned to a feeling of inadequacy – until I met the benefit of adding value.

Unsuspectingly, my education didn’t translate into useful intelligence. Discussions in meetings didn’t incorporate business concepts that I had recently learned…they were about actual business processes; requiring experience in the industry and more importantly, the company.

At this time, my approach to gain recognition was to sit back and wait for any and every chance I had to speak up…and I did just that. However, 99% of the time my opinions were glanced right over because my offerings were worthless to the subject at hand.

The Discovery…

During this time I was in the process of reading a number of self-help books, with the understanding that I had learning and growing to do. I vividly remember reading a section in How to Win Friends and Influence People and coming across the topic of listening. Listening to fully understand what’s going on, rather than listening to make the next witty comment – as I had been doing. After studying the art of listening, I immediately recognized that I had an opportunity to improve.

I mentally sketched my new approach → sit back, listen with the intent to learn and without interjecting my own skewed thoughts. I began practicing this in meetings and quickly started to pick up and understand the company’s processes; helping me form correlations between what I was learning on the job and concepts I had recently learned in college.

I committed to using this approach and found that it allowed me to identify areas where I could add value. Beyond listening attentively, I found that being mindful overall helped me identify situations where I could be of help to others. I wanted to be accommodating; to give value…and what happened in return was value was given back me. I received referrals for new and higher paying jobs, promotions and developed strong business relationships.

The Test Run…

It was at this point where I met the Value Factor. I learned that supplying value isn’t just a good deed, but it can put you in an advantageous position; a position deeming you as a valuable asset.

Everyone sees themselves as valuable (at least they should), but it’s another thing when others view you as valuable.

I went from listening with the intent of finding the perfect spot to jab in my 2 sense, to being a listener first, with the intention of adding value if I can find something of value to include. This means that if I don’t have something constructive to add, I don’t try to fake constructiveness. Sure, I’ll comment, agree or respectfully disagree, but I won’t just throw out ideas – just to throw out ideas. My purpose is to add value.

Putting it into practice…

My next job was in sales. It was a natural fit for me at this point because I had learned the art of interacting with people in a professional environment and the basics of sales. Loving to inject my own ‘hustle’ style into every formula, my sales approach was not to sale the physical product of service…it was to sale the value of the product or service. This made the classic “cost analysis process” much easier to overcome because the prospect’s focus wasn’t on the cost first, it was to the benefit of the product or service; the value.

How to Add Value

Today, being a value add is a part of who I am. I genuinely like being a part of the solution and helping others. So beyond the auto-generated benefits that come with the Value Factor, I receive satisfaction in knowing that I’ve helped someone or something.

The great thing is that there’s no wrong way to do it. Also, there are no negative effects as long as your intentions aren’t focused on the benefit of you. Share your knowledge and skills and reap the rewards from doing so.

There are so many ways to add value…here are a handful that I practice:

• Listen. You don’t have to uncover something spectacular to add value. Simply listen and identify the void…if you can help fill the void – then do so. Even positive reinforcement is valuable.
• Think before you speak. Speaking without thinking first can get you in trouble. Think about how you want to deliver your message and how it will be received.
• Use simple words. Don’t water down your message with wording that confuses people. Get the ultimate effect by using the most simple words possible…so simple that your message can be easily remembered and recalled.
• Find your niche. You’re an expert at something. Whatever that something is, make that skill available to others.
• Know your audience. There may be times when you have something valuable to add, but doing so could offend someone in the process. Keep in mind that not everything you see as valuable will be interpreted in the same manner. Know what role you play.
• (sometimes) Don’t say a word. Listening without responding can be a significant value add. There are times when people want to vent free from our advice or tips. A good ear and sealed lips are valuable…and rare.
• Attitude. It’s easily sense when you’re attitude doesn’t match your intent. To truly give value; you must display value through your enthusiastic personality. If your attitude is negative, which is easily picked up by others, your overall contributions will have a negative effect. When you’re in the spell of a negative attitude, keep it isolated to keep from polluting others.
• Be a humble servant. Serving others doesn’t mean you’re inferior. Jesus washed the feet of his disciples. Asking how you can be of help (or serve) shows that your intentions aren’t only angled towards your own benefit but for others as well.

Keep your approach pure; don’t focus on the benefits that come to you, for they’ll come naturally…focus on how you can be of value and promote value to others. What you’ll find is that the level of appreciation, respect and value that people have for you will increase tenfold. Who doesn’t want to be highly appreciated, respected and valued? These are a few of the benefits that come along with the Value Factor – seriously.

As you maneuver throughout your professional endeavors and personal life alike, be sure to add value at every chance that you can. Those who practice this can attest to the rewards that transcend from this behavior. If this all seems far-fetched, that may be because you haven’t consistently added value to others.

As you can see, at its core, the Value Factor is simply all about finding ways to serve others. An effect of adopting the Value Factor is that you become a valuable asset in the process.

Q: How do you add value and what benefits do receive from doing so? Do you find that you add value but get nothing in return?