What Do You Bring to the Table? It’s Time to Own Your Value
This is the second in a series of seven blog posts featuring advice on our Seven Strategies for Flex Success®. To learn more, register today for our 2019 Flex Success® Institute, a five-part, virtual professional development program for mid-level professionals working a flexible schedule. Program begins April 2, 2019.
Over the years we’ve asked professionals about their roads to flex success. “Even if you don’t feel confident, you have to exude confidence,” said one executive. The best way to feel confident is by knowing your strengths and identifying what makes you unique. It’s important to find ways to incorporate these assets and skills into everything you do. This is the value-add that will make you a go-to resource for your colleagues, supervisors and clients, and it’s the lever that provides you with greater choice, including flexibility in your schedule.
As one professional working flex advised:
“Differentiating yourself is critical if you’re hoping to take advantage of a flexible schedule. Once you earn the reputation as a hard worker who produces high quality work, people will want you on their team no matter what your schedule is.”
Owning your value also means being selective when agreeing to assignments and maintaining a client and project base that best showcases your skills and strengths. “I worked with my Practice Group Leaders to make sure I was staffed on projects that would expand my skills set and not just do ‘leftover’ work,” one law firm Partner recalled.
Additionally, it’s important to build on these strengths and ensure that you are continuously adding to your skills to earn the trust and support of your supervisors and co-workers. By developing an area of expertise that’s in demand you are able to make yourself uniquely valuable to the firm and clients. As one executive put it, “If you prove to be invaluable, then your schedule won’t matter to anyone – people will want you on their team, and they will accommodate your need for flexibility.”
Want to learn how to broaden your leadership style, enhance your networks, and strengthen your communication skills, register now for our virtual 2019 Flex Success® Institute. You’ll receive five virtual training sessions as well as one individual coaching session with Manar Morales.
