What is My Perceived Value?

Have you ever asked yourself this question “What is my Perceived value?”.

I did not understand the importance of the “What is my Perceived Value?” question until 2019, I have always thought that my technical skills and my management skills were enough to get what I wanted in my career. ?

But when I saw an article asking this question in one of the social platforms, “What is your Perceived value?”, it caught my attention and after reading I realized that I am missing something big in my professional life.

I asked myself “What is my perceived value?”, This is a very important self-evaluation question which will propel your career growth. ?While some of them naturally build their perceived value, most of them are unaware of it.

Let’s decode the perceived value. But, Before talking about perceived value, Let’s discuss what is Real value.

What is real value?

There’s no particular definition for real value, however,

• Real value refers to the tangible contributions, skills, expertise, and results that a professional brings to the workplace.
• It deals with factors such as job performance, productivity, technical proficiency, creativity, problem-solving abilities, and the ability to meet or exceed goals and objectives etc . etc.
• Real value is often measured through concrete metrics, such as revenue generated, cost savings, project completion rates, client satisfaction scores, quality of work, Certifications etc.
• Professionals who consistently deliver high-quality work, demonstrate proficiency in their field and make meaningful contributions to their teams and organizations.?

You may ask that, the Real value covers almost everything a professional requires to excel in career growth, Right?

Yeah true, but I have seen many professionals who are awesome in most of them but aren’t able to get the due credit that they deserve, be it a promotion, salary hike, appreciation etc.. Have you come across such professionals? Wait, Are you one among such professionals who you think deserve much more than what you are getting right now?

If so, let’s get into the Perceived value as well, Let me define what is perceived value,

• Perceived value is the subjective perception or reputation that others in the workplace have of a professional.
• ?It deals with factors such as communication skills, interpersonal relationships, reputation, personal branding, visibility, and influence within the organization.
• Perceived value is influenced by factors such as personal charisma, networking abilities, leadership qualities, and the ability to inspire trust and confidence in others
• Professionals who are perceived as reliable, trustworthy, collaborative, and influential tend to have a higher perceived value in the workplace.

So it is more of what people think about you in your absence, What is that you stand for?

Every move in your organization can add to your perceived value. So, we need to be cautiously dealing with every situation and build our perceived value.

Let me explain with one example which is as simple as this one, in my previous organization, whenever I included a couple of people in my meetings, I used to make sure that I was in the meeting 10 minutes before because those two people were always 5 minutes before the meeting, they had such an incredible name about their professional excellence throughout the organization that their perceived value of being professional is very high.

On the contrary, What if the same people attend the meetings 5 minutes late always, their perceived value would have been significantly negatively impacted, People may start perceiving that they may take things for granted!!

Such small negative things can pile up and have a significant negative impact on the perceived value of an individual. Conversely, any positive actions, whether small or large, can significantly enhance the perceived value of an individual.

It’s not just about what you do; it's also about how others see what you do. That's your "perceived value," which is like adding glitter to your professional image. ??

So, How can I improve my perceived Value at the workplace? Here are some of the tips, and techniques to enhance your perceived value.

?? Your Personal Brand: Your personal brand is like a sign that shows who you are and what you're good at. Are you known for being dependable, creative, or a good leader? Having a strong personal brand can really boost how others see you.

?? Building Relationships: It's not just about what you know; it's also about who you know and how well you get along with them. Making good connections and having friends in your work world can make people think highly of you.?

?? Getting Noticed: How much do people notice you at work? Do they ask for your opinions? Being seen as someone with good ideas and influence can make others think highly of you.

?? Doing What's Right for the Team: Are the things you do at work helping the team reach its goals? If what you do lines up with what the team is trying to achieve, people will think more highly of you.

?? Being Professional and Honest: Being trustworthy and acting professionally are super important at work. If people know they can count on you and that you're honest, they'll think highly of you.

?? Always Learning: Things change all the time, so it's important to keep learning. If you're always trying to get better at what you do, people will see you as someone who's ready to take on new challenges.

So, your perceived value is the sum of how others perceive your personal brand, relationships, visibility, alignment with organizational goals, professionalism, and commitment to growth. By actively managing and enhancing these aspects of your professional identity, you can amplify your impact, influence, and success in the workplace. ??

In conclusion, to maximize career success and advancement, it's essential for professionals to focus on both aspects: continuously enhancing their real value through skills development, performance improvement, and results delivery, while also actively managing their perceived value through effective communication, relationship-building, and personal branding strategies. By aligning real value with perceived value, professionals can position themselves for long-term success and recognition in the workplace.

If you feel that you need to enhance your perceived value at your workplace or you feel undervalued or underpaid and aiming to achieve the significant salary growth and the promotions you deserve, I help mid-career professionals achieve the same with my Unique Framework!

Don't hesitate to DM me or visit www.gururaja.co for more information.