I know you add value to those around you. I also know many of us do not see the value we add. If any of the following statements sound like you, then you may not be taking credit for the value that you bring with your unique skills, talents and experience. The world needs you to acknowledge what you are good at so you can be confident to add even more value! So let’s get to it!
You don’t take credit for what you’ve done well
This past week I received a compliment for something I had done. I immediately said thanks, but followed with, “it wouldn’t have worked had I not gotten feedback from my colleague.” Yes, the feedback made it better, but what I ended up changing (for the better) was a small part of a larger whole. Why didn’t I just accept the compliment?
I was not confident in my abilities or the result because I had just learned how to do the thing that garnered the compliment. My identity was still of a person that didn’t know how to do the thing I did. My colleague said, “take the compliment, even if it was an easy thing to do.” It was easy once I figured out how to do it, but not before.
How to overcome this: I’ll be working on this myself, but I’m pretty sure that when we get a compliment we should just say “thanks,” or “thanks for the feedback” (the latter is my favorite when I don’t feel 100% confident). If you’re feeling uneasy, as I was in this example, ask yourself why. In my case I need to shift my belief that I am someone who can do this task from someone who cannot.
You think what you do is easy
There is always a learning curve for both content and context when we start a new role. Once we figure things out and produce more efficiently, we may fall into thinking that we’re not adding much value because what we do is easy. I see this a lot when I review resumes. People forget to add what they are good at doing because they think everyone can do it.
This may be related to “the curse of knowledge,” which says it is difficult to remember not knowing something. In our example, we forget the struggles or time we put in to learn something new. Do you think driving a car is easy? Was it easy when you first started?
How to overcome this: ask yourself what you feel comfortable doing. Then look around and ask yourself if anyone could do your job. I doubt that anyone could do your job, or do your job with the excellence you do it with. You have a unique combination of skills, talent and experience! Acknowledge this fact about yourself.
You think it’s arrogant to acknowledge something you are good at
Some of us grew up hearing that it is good to be humble. But I think we confuse humility with undervaluation of ourselves. Think of a great athlete who you consider humble. Do they go around saying they aren’t any good at their sport? No! But they don’t draw attention to it unnecessarily. They give credit where credit is due.
Are you taking credit for what you know you are good at? If not, I believe you are doing yourself and those around you a disservice. Who would want to learn from someone who says they are no good at something? Who would want someone to do work for them that doesn’t think they have what it takes to do the job?
How to overcome this: Observe others and note what they are good at. Then observe yourself and acknowledge what you are good at. I know you are good at many things! Be prepared to answer the question, “what are you good at?” with the things you know you are good at.
Others don’t see the value in what you do
Sigh. This is a tough one. I once had a senior member of the technical staff look me in the eye and say, “it’s not that I don’t like you as a person, I just don’t think that project managers add any value.”
Well that’s nice, I thought. Had someone said this to me when I first started my career (although I wasn’t a project manager then) I may have taken it very hard. Luckily for me I knew what value a project manager adds and took the statement in stride.
Perhaps people aren’t telling you directly that you don’t add value. Maybe they just don’t understand what you do. There are many technical roles that are difficult to explain to people who aren’t familiar with the work. It can make us feel a bit lonely.
How to overcome this: Find some birds of a feather to flock with. There are organizations that meet locally for many technical fields. Find a podcast or blog centered around your expertise. You are not alone! It’s relaxing to be able to “talk shop” with someone in the same line of work as you.
Summary
You may be adding more value than you think if any of these sound like you:
- You don’t take credit for what you’ve done well.
- You think what you do is easy.
- You think it’s arrogant to acknowledge you are good at something.
- Others don’t see the value in what you do.
The world needs your unique combination of skills, talents, and experience. If you are reading this then I know you add value! I encourage you to acknowledge the value you add so that you feel confident to explore your potential and add even more.