With all the job cuts and workforce restructuring efforts that are dominating the news, many of us are wondering—with varying degrees of personal and professional desperation—how we can hang onto our jobs.
Obviously, there is no solitary approach that ensures continued employment. However, an overriding factor, no matter the industry or company for whom you toil, is that you must discover and make the most of the points that build your distinction from others at your workplace.
If any organization in today’s economy can receive exactly the same results from someone in Bangalore as they do from Baltimore, there is little reason for them to choose anything other than the least costly alternative.
While it may seem uncomfortable to do so, you must first exploit your uniqueness. What do you bring to the table that no one else around you possesses? Is there something in your past that makes you especially sensitive to the needs of your customers? Could your degree in political science, for example, provide you with a deeper insight into how external or global forces will shape the future of your organization?
The cruel fact is that if you cannot differentiate yourself from everyone else at your company, there is no compelling reason to keep you on the team in this economic climate. Be extraordinarily clear about what you have to offer that gives you an advantage. And, if you cannot think of anything—begin a program of learning and growth that demonstrates your willingness to improve yourself, so the organization will grow.
Next, be creative! Every single point of contact with the customer—internal or external—provides an opportunity for uniqueness. Enterprise Rent-A-Car, for example, has one, solid point of distinction—“they pick you up.” If I want a Hertz car, I have to go to their location to obtain it, and the same is true with most other competitors in the rental car industry. At Enterprise, however, I know they will come and get me! What is your single point of distinction that makes a difference for your organization? If you cannot come up with anything, make a list of every situation where you touch the customer. Each is an opportunity for differentiation that makes you irreplaceable.
Finally, communicate in stories—not just in numbers! We are a culture that both responds and is inspired by stories. Don’t just inform how much money you saved the company—tell as story about what it means to the organization, the customer, and the bottom line. If you did something that enhanced client relationships, transmit the information through the lens of that patron who found her experience improved.
When Barack Obama gave his memorable speech in Chicago following his election, he did not talk about its historical meaning in facts, figures, and theories. Instead, he wisely told the story of a woman who, at over 100 years old, had lived through segregation and suffrage, and had now participated as a minority was elected President of the United States. By using the power of story, he communicated in an infinitely more compelling manner.
If you hunker down, try to ride out the recession, and merely hope for the best for the present, the odds are great that you are a prime candidate for obscurity in the future. Ask yourself, “How can my employer tell the difference between me and my colleagues?” If the answer is, “They can’t,” then you are in major trouble. Utilize—in the most positive manner possible—your uniqueness in a manner that adds value to your career and for your organization.
Scott McKain is the Vice Chairman of Obsidian Enterprises, co-founder of The Value Added Institute and author of “Collapse of Distinction – Stand Out and Move Up While Your Competition Fails”. Read more on his blog at http://mckainviewpoint.com/ .
Obviously, there is no solitary approach that ensures continued employment. However, an overriding factor, no matter the industry or company for whom you toil, is that you must discover and make the most of the points that build your distinction from others at your workplace.
If any organization in today’s economy can receive exactly the same results from someone in Bangalore as they do from Baltimore, there is little reason for them to choose anything other than the least costly alternative.
While it may seem uncomfortable to do so, you must first exploit your uniqueness. What do you bring to the table that no one else around you possesses? Is there something in your past that makes you especially sensitive to the needs of your customers? Could your degree in political science, for example, provide you with a deeper insight into how external or global forces will shape the future of your organization?
The cruel fact is that if you cannot differentiate yourself from everyone else at your company, there is no compelling reason to keep you on the team in this economic climate. Be extraordinarily clear about what you have to offer that gives you an advantage. And, if you cannot think of anything—begin a program of learning and growth that demonstrates your willingness to improve yourself, so the organization will grow.
Next, be creative! Every single point of contact with the customer—internal or external—provides an opportunity for uniqueness. Enterprise Rent-A-Car, for example, has one, solid point of distinction—“they pick you up.” If I want a Hertz car, I have to go to their location to obtain it, and the same is true with most other competitors in the rental car industry. At Enterprise, however, I know they will come and get me! What is your single point of distinction that makes a difference for your organization? If you cannot come up with anything, make a list of every situation where you touch the customer. Each is an opportunity for differentiation that makes you irreplaceable.
Finally, communicate in stories—not just in numbers! We are a culture that both responds and is inspired by stories. Don’t just inform how much money you saved the company—tell as story about what it means to the organization, the customer, and the bottom line. If you did something that enhanced client relationships, transmit the information through the lens of that patron who found her experience improved.
When Barack Obama gave his memorable speech in Chicago following his election, he did not talk about its historical meaning in facts, figures, and theories. Instead, he wisely told the story of a woman who, at over 100 years old, had lived through segregation and suffrage, and had now participated as a minority was elected President of the United States. By using the power of story, he communicated in an infinitely more compelling manner.
If you hunker down, try to ride out the recession, and merely hope for the best for the present, the odds are great that you are a prime candidate for obscurity in the future. Ask yourself, “How can my employer tell the difference between me and my colleagues?” If the answer is, “They can’t,” then you are in major trouble. Utilize—in the most positive manner possible—your uniqueness in a manner that adds value to your career and for your organization.
Scott McKain is the Vice Chairman of Obsidian Enterprises, co-founder of The Value Added Institute and author of “Collapse of Distinction – Stand Out and Move Up While Your Competition Fails”. Read more on his blog at http://mckainviewpoint.com/ .
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