Mirror Mirror on the Wall

Making assumptions is not usually the best thing to do, but when it comes to the current title of "Mirror Mirror on the Wall", I am going to assume that most people have heard this before. "Mirror, mirror on the wall, who is the fairest of them all?" was first used in the 1937 Disney animated film "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs".?However, this line is a misquote, as in the actual movie, the Evil Queen says, "Magic mirror on the wall, who is the fairest of them all?" and then she doesn't get the answer she is looking for at one point and the rest of the fairy tale we know all too well.? The notion of standing in front of the mirror and asking yourself some tough questions is not a new one, yet it is a powerful and humbling exercise.? And it leads us to today's question - when was the last time you asked yourself - Am I still relevant?

Now, before we continue, I want to make something crystal clear. We live in a world where mental health and the struggles with it are increasing. There are pressures from all sides on so many levels, and everyone has different challenges they may be dealing with, and not all is visible or known to others. When it comes to a personal level, you should never doubt that you are relevant. You do not have to be many things to many people, but if you matter even just to one other, you are most definitely relevant. It brings the quote from Dumbledore in the Harry Potter series to mind: "Happiness can be found even in the darkest of times, if one only remembers to turn on the light.". In the darkest of times, no matter how difficult it may seem, you have to focus on those who are a source of light for you. Never feel that you are entirely alone in this world, even if you feel that things are just getting a bit too much.

So, coming back to the question at hand - and for some additional guidance - you need to ask yourself this in the context of your immediate team, the wider functional team you may be part of or even the entire organisation you work in. Does what you do daily really matter - is it really that relevant? If I stopped doing what I do daily, would anyone notice? Would complete processes stop? Now, this is a very honest question to ask, and it takes a certain amount of maturity to answer it truthfully. So, you may throw this back at me and ask - so how do you define relevant because it is quite a broad term? Answering this is quite easy - do you consistently add value? That is the definition of relevance.

When defining the term "adding value" within a team or broader organisational context, there is a very practical way to look at it, and I will take a specific route to explain this. Curriculum Vitae - I have a big problem with traditional CVs - especially if you get some of those 10 to15-page monsters where someone has taken the time to meticulously document everything that they have done in every position throughout their career.? Instead of this traditional approach and enabling you to answer the question of relevance - have you ever gone through the process of putting a value statement together? So, instead of listing what you were required to do in each position, document what value you added during your tenor in each of them. What did you do that moved the needle, saved time, or had another direct impact on your function or business? Try to put a two to three-page maximum value statement together. That paints a completely different picture altogether.

The beauty of this exercise is that you will never think about your daily responsibilities the same way again, and it will change the way you prioritise certain projects over others. Having that mindset and asking yourself at the end of each day - did I add value today, and then over time, do I have something meaningful I can add to my value statement - is a game changer. Another way of thinking about this is whether you could convince a complete stranger - someone that you have never worked with, someone that has no history of any past achievements - of your relevance. Can you convince them why you are a valuable member of the team or broader organisation? Could you present a value statement with the only conclusion being them saying - you are most definitely someone we should have in the team/organisation. And when leading teams, it is a fantastic conversation to have with them - it provides so much more clarity towards what is expected from them rather than just normal KPIs.

The world is evolving at an unprecedented pace. It's crucial not to assume that your current skillset will remain relevant, or that the definition of "adding value" will stay the same.? To remain relevant, you must continuously reassess what additional skills or knowledge you need to acquire. The concept of continuous learning and growth is not just a mantra, but a strategy for adapting and staying relevant. And with continuous growth comes new opportunities and new journeys. Never stop adding new items to your value statement.