7 Ways to Increase Your Value at Work

7 Ways to Increase Your Value at Work Do you want to increase your value as an employee?Sure I do. Yeah. But what will I get out of this?Being a high-value employee means holding an above-average position at work and being able to excel during new work tasks. This, in turn, makes you a more likely candidate for upcoming promotions.Plus, if you have a clear and measurable value in your workplace, youre in a much better position to negotiate a pay rise and you enjoy a high level of job security.NowThere might not be a clear-cut way to increase your work value overnight. But Ive compiled a list of 7 suggestions to get you started. You can use several at the same time to achieve your workplace goals and become a better asset to your company.Get Out of Your Comfort ZoneWhen you can show your employer youre willing and able to take on new tasks, it will increase your workplace value.Its okay to admit that you dont know everything but never let a perceived lack of knowledge hold you back.Why?When you get accustomed to doing the same things day after day, you lapse into patterns of boredom and complacency.One easy and practical thing you can do to move beyond your usual boundaries is to ook for opportunities to take on new duties or try unfamiliar things.Example? Your workplace is creating a team of seasoned employees to support new workers in their onboardingand youre voluntarily joining the pack.The ways to get out of your comfort zone boil down to doing things valuable to your employer and this way to increase your value at work.Be Receptive to FeedbackWe all love hearing positive feedback. But what about negative comments?Truth is, you need to be equally receptive to both.This will help you understand and work on yourstrengths andweaknesses to become a better employee and colleague.Continuous self-improvement proves you care about itso you care about doing a great job.Plus, the survey results ofa 2018 study from SHRM and Globoforce showed a clear link between peer feedback and better accuracy during ye arly reviews. The research showed that 76% of the human resources professionals polled said ongoing peer feedback leads to enhanced annual reviews for employees.Cultivate an Achievement-Driven MindsetIn arecent study, LeadershipIQ analyzed types of human motivations and classified people into five categories based on what motivates them.Here are the five groups:Achievement-driven peoplethose who constantly want to challenge their personal accomplishments and get better resultsPower-driven people who are motivated by making decisions and being in chargeAffiliation-driven people whose main motivator is working in a harmonious relationship with othersSecurity-driven peoplefor them, what matters most is consistency and continuity of their workAdventure-driven peoplepeople who like to take risks and explore new thingsWhile no motivation type is better than another, the analysis revealed achievement-driven people are 44% more likely to love what they do and have great results.And this is what employers will appreciate.So .What pushes you to grow?You can take the LeadershipIQs test here to discover your type of motivation.Even if it turns out youre not an achievement-driven person, you can foster this point of view by setting small daily or weekly goals for yourself.If its initially difficult to come up with goals, think of a certain task and ask yourself, How could I do it better? Also, narrow down your thought process by focusing on metrics easy to measure, such as time- or quantity-based ones.Whenever you achieve these small goals, the satisfaction youll feel will be an award and a further motivatorYou will be better prepared for more challenging tasks (recall my points on stepping out of your comfort zone and welcoming feedback) and youll increase your value as an individual and employee.Earn Professional CertificationsProfessional certifications are a verified proof of your skills and qualificationsnot only on when youre looking for a job but also when youre alr eady hired.SoEarning new work-related certificates will boost your value both as a candidate and an employee.Heres a practical example:Alexandra Tran, a Digital Marketing Strategist with Hollingsworth which a national e-commerce and logistics company, took the Google Analytics certification exam. She was extremely pleased with the effect it had on her at work.She says: I immediately became more involved in various marketing projects and Im slated to become a Marketing Manager by Summer 2019. It was one of the best things Ive ever done to help me advance in my career.If you want to become a more valuable asset to your current employer and increase your chances of promotion and career growth, follow this example.Its easy:Research the certifications that apply to your field, see which are most in-demand in your industry and get them Some will be free of charge, others will require a payment butIf you present clear business benefits your certification will bring to the whole organizatio n, your employer should agree to pay these extra costs. Once you start putting your newly gained knowledge to use and deliver results, your employer will see the investment in your paid off.And youll be in a great position tonegotiate a pay increase.Another benefit of engaging in continuous learning and professional development is expanding your professional network. The Pew Research Center investigated why adults engage in lifelong learning for personal and professional reasons. The study revealed that, of the people who pursued professional development through learning, 65% said theyexpanded their professional networks by doing so.Being connected to professionals from your industry can help you tackle problems outside of your area of expertise in your day-to-day work life. Plus, it can prove an invaluable asset when looking for new employment opportunities.Sign Up for Single-Day WorkshopsHeres another point about continuous learning.In some industries, getting certified might take ages and require a long-term training in advance. What if you dont have that much time to spare?Enroll in one-day workshops, short courses available online or small trainings organized as part of industry events near you. It will let you stay abreast of the subjects that matter in your field and youll still be able to put new knowledge into practice at work.The effect?Youll bring more value to your workplace.Show Out-of-the-Box ThinkingWhen you showcreative, unorthodox thinking, you display the capability to view things from a different perspective and tackle problems in a way others have not tried before.Your employer will notice and appreciate it.Why?Coming up with new, experimental ideas is a great problem-solving technique.Sometimes, if we adhere too closely to norms and expectations upheld within a company, we cannot effectively cope with situations that span beyond existing procedures.That said, I dont mean you should intentionally break the rules.Keep an open mind and look f or solutions.Avoid Behaviors or Characteristics That Could Decrease Your ValueAt this stage you already know six ways to become more valuable at work.But you also need to be aware of things that could make your value go down.And eliminate these behaviours if you have them.Here are some of the most common culprits:Complaining too muchNot being a team playerOften showing up late for workLacking engagement with tasksTaking part in things that could lower morale, such as gossipingFailing to identify bad habits and work to overcome themKnowingly ignoring company policiesThe final two bullet points are especially problematic from a cybersecurity standpoint,a 2018 SailPoint survey found.The research showed that three-quarters of the employees polled admitted to reusing passwords across business and personal accounts. Moreover, 31% said they had installed new software at work without the help or approval of the IT department.So, what do you think?The eight tips here give you actionable stra tegies for becoming more valuable to your employer.They will also help you gain a sense of pride while accomplishing things that make you a well-rounded person and worker.What strategies are you using to increase your workplace value? What do you think is most important in professional development? Does your company offer a training budget to the employees? If so: have you used it? Let us know in the comments! Lets get the discussion started.