Embarking on a new task, project, or even career, requires evaluating the situation at hand - evaluation of both the situation and of yourself. The distinction between evaluation and self-evaluation is critical. Evaluating a situation tends to be more objective, while self-evaluation is entirely subjective.
Evaluation
Whether or not I engage in evaluating my work, it is highly likely that my superiors will be engaging in an ongoing evaluation of my progress based on outcomes and results that can be extrapolated from figures and statistics. My objective evaluation will be based on the work I carry out in accordance with the goals and performance expected from me.
Self-evaluation
On the other hand, self-evaluation is entirely subjective. I am the one who evaluates my progress based on habits and criteria which I set myself, generally as intentions or career ambitions. These criteria may or may not tally with those that the organisation sets for me.
I might decide to lower the bar (though this is highly inadvisable for obvious reasons), or I may decide to exceed expectations by striving to achieve beyond my call of duty. When this happens, and when the results are noticed and acknowledged by my organisation, my work worth increases, since I represent added value as opposed to simply measuring up to my expected value.
How to evaluate work worth
If you wish to set yourself apart as a result of the added value that you contribute to your organisation, your answers to the following five key questions will help you assess your work worth:
1. What are your work goals?
Am I reaching the goals set for me by my superiors or am I setting goals that go beyond? It could very well be that I am happy with my current position at work. However, if my intention is to move further up the ladder, then perhaps it is time to show that I am willing and able to go that bit further. It will serve as a measure of how my performance compares with that of my peers.
2. How well are you managing your time?
Time management is key. As the age-old adage goes, time is money. It starts from attendance, to what I manage to accomplish in a day, to getting rid of dead weight, to job delegation, and to the results I present. It refers especially to how much I am able to rearrange my schedule when an emergency crops up, instead of going in panic mode because my timetable has been disrupted.
3. How well do you communicate?
Communication is key. Is my voice heard? If it is, is it too loud, is it able to make a point, is it able to pitch ideas, is it able to negotiate and does it speak ‘smart’? Listening is a big part of communication. Do I listen to what others have to say, Do I seek mentorship, and Do I seek feedback? When the latter is given, do I accept it?
4. Are you a good collaborator?
It was Steve Jobs who famously coined the quote “Great things in business are never done by one person. They are done by a team of people”. Demonstrating my personal work worth is never just about me. In fact, a lot will depend on my teamwork skills, how well I collaborate with others, how well I connect, and the networks that I am able to build.
5. Are you part of the solution?
What are the inherent qualities and skills that I bring to my organisation that help it move forward, and more importantly, to continue on course when difficulties are encountered? Am I even aware of these skills and the direction the organisation is heading toward? Am I a worrier or am I positive in the face of adversity? And when difficulties are encountered, what is my specialty that makes me truly irreplaceable on the job?
A way to calculate work worth numerically is to assign 20 points for each question, and awarding marks to each sub-question. The closer to a 100, the more the value increases.
Investing the time to engage in self-evaluating work worth can make us realise where our strengths lie and identify areas for development, and then move to address them.
Work worth and value may not be everyone’s cup of tea, but no one can deny that the more valuable an asset, the more it is prized. Whether it is about selling yourself to your own organisation, or in preparation for an eventual move, it's always good to know what you are worth, what your assets are, and how to make the most of them!
If you're looking for your next career opportunity and would like to evaluate your work worth, Ceek can help! Register with us today for job opportunities in Malta...