If you want to be valued.. be valuable.
This may sound a little harsh, but there’s an equation that calculates the difference between how you determine the value you offer and how others gauge your value, or usefulness, to them. The connection between the two is driven by what you perceive your value to be, and what others perceive it to be, based on your relationships with each other, be it commercial or personal.
Relationships are built on values.
Strong friendships and/or commercial relationships and underpinned by shared value, that are revealed through mutual benefits for each other. Your relationships with other people, both commercial and personal, are built on each party having the similar set of values.
Ideally, as suggested in this statement, you want to find people who believe what you believe, Simon Sinek (2011).
You initially connect with others around a commonality of attributes that are mutually important. you then typically identify that you like an individual or a company and that they like you. As this relationship or friendship evolves, your perceived value to the other party and vice versa is revealed. These shared values further support the relationship and in turn, see the connection grow.
To be of value to others we need to commit to the thinking that helps us bridge the gap between economic and personal values, creating and attracting commercial success along the way.
When you learn how to connect at a value level with others, you invite increased opportunity to attract extremely high levels of revenue and profit, through your products and services. The key to making this work is in your ability to align your product or service, with the value of an individual or customer in a market that’s important to them. If you can capitalise on this, based on your skills and supported by a strong commercial model and excellent customer service, you will be of significant value to your customers within this market.
Easy ha… no, it’s bloody hard. That’s why not many endeavour to take this on.
It is my belief that value-driven relationships, within an identified market, can attract high levels of success for both parties, with the growth of your combined customer base over time. When I look at companies and individuals that do well in any given market, it’s clear how much their customers value them. This is likely based on how they conduct themselves and their understanding of their value to others.
- Get clear on what you value, what’s really important to you.
- Understand what’s really important to others and/or the market you serve.
- Do the work in connecting at a shared values level.
