How Do I Increase My Value?
Steve Maloney
In my recent posts, we explored the first four questions of Value-Added Leadership: Do I have value to add; Do I value what I do; Do I value the person; and How do I add value?
The first four questions provide the foundation for staying current and present in the leadership moment. However, the next step isn’t being comfortable with our current state of providing value through leadership; it’s about moving forward and continually improving our leadership. We must intentionally take steps to better ourselves and commit to a journey of personal growth.
So, for this post, let’s consider the final question of Value-Added Leadership: How Do I Increase My Value?
One lesson I’ve learned from teaching and applying Lean Six Sigma for more than 25 years is that improvement is not a destination: it’s a process. We identify opportunities, adjust, learn from the results (both successes and failures), and continue looking for ways to improve.
Leadership is no different.
If we want to increase our value as leaders, we must first be willing to look at ourselves honestly. What do I need to learn? What skills do I need to strengthen? What feedback am I receiving? What experiences can help me grow? And perhaps most importantly, what am I doing today that will make me a better leader tomorrow?
The last year has probably been the best year of my life in terms of personal growth. I went through a period of disappointment, sorrow, and even despair, and in doing so, I realized both my potential and what I have to offer. Critical moments and people in my life supported me and helped me get on a path of personal growth. All of it helped me realize my purpose and my “why.” I get great joy and satisfaction from teaching and coaching others so they can achieve great results, build their leadership skills, and influence others.
Even so, I quickly learned that I needed to be intentional about my personal growth if I wanted greater influence and to perform at a higher level for those I train and coach. That is when I began taking steps to expand my knowledge and broaden my perspective on leadership.
A leader who keeps growing can bring new ideas to the team. A leader who listens and learns can better understand the people they lead. A leader who seeks feedback can identify blind spots. A leader who develops new skills can create new opportunities for others.
This is where personal growth becomes value-added leadership.
John Maxwell often emphasizes that leadership is about adding value to people. But to consistently add value to others, we must also be committed to increasing the value we bring to the relationship.
That might mean reading a book, finding a coach or mentor, attending training, asking for feedback, learning from a mistake, or simply becoming more intentional about how we communicate and connect with others.
As I reflect on the five questions we have explored throughout this series, I see them as a continuous cycle:
Do I have value to add?
Recognize that your experience, knowledge, and story can make a difference.
Do I value what I do?
Connect your work to purpose and understand why it matters.
Do I value the person?
Recognize the potential, perspective, and worth of the people around you.
How do I add value?
Be intentional about how you communicate, coach, encourage, challenge, and support others.
How do I increase my value?
Commit to continuous learning, personal growth, and becoming a better leader.
The journey doesn’t end with answering these questions once. In fact, the real opportunity is to keep asking them – even daily!
Leadership isn’t about reaching a point where we have all the answers. It’s about remaining curious, staying teachable, and continuing to grow so that we can bring greater value to the people and organizations we serve.
The greatest value we can add tomorrow will come from what we are willing to learn and improve today.