What is your unique value proposition? What unique set of experience, skills, and style do you bring to the your work? If you’ve never tried this before I challenge you to give it a shot and share it with our community. That’s not bragging, that’s confidence.
Why I’m Writing About Unique Value Propositions Today
When I recently published a post on the Lead Change Group Website, How to Promote Yourself Without Being Annoying, my first tip was “be confident in your product.”
“Be Confident In Your Product – If you don’t believe in what you’re selling, your customer won’t either. Make a list of your features and benefits. What truly differentiates you? What’s your unique value proposition? If this step feels too hard, ask some trusted advisers to help.”
John’s Query
I was deeply touched by one of the responses: here’s an excerpt:
I do have a question about one thing: This “Unique Value Proposition.” Maybe I am just being too literal here, but I have always found this difficult to do. When I see the word “unique” or the phase “sets you apart from everyone else”, I freeze up, because I cannot imagine any value, attribute, behavior, or trait that is truly “unique.”
I do believe that my blend of experience, education, and attitude makes me very competitive and a stronger candidate than many others, but “unique” is a word I just cannot use in reference to myself.
You mentioned asking trusted advisors for their input and I will do that … but I cannot imagine them identifying something completely unique to me.
My Response
| 13 OCT 2015
John,
I think if you really consider this carefully, you will realize that there is something about the cocktail of John that is truly unique.
For example, when I am positioning myself for change management work in the call center space, I do believe I have a cocktail that is unique. There’s a blend of a significant academic background in leadership, a decade in HR strategy and field work, coupled with having led several internal large call centers at Verizon, and then completely transformed the entire customer service outsourcing function at Verizon to parity with internal centers by building strategic partnerships and great cultures….and I’m about to publish a book for AMACOM based on that experience.
I don’t have to say all that out loud, but it pops on LinkedIn.
I’m uniquely positioned to help a call center turn their results around.
Find me a guy that looks like that, and I’ll buy you lunch… she said with #confidenthumility.
Namaste,
Karin
Of course, I can mix the cocktail in different forms drawing on my varied experience depending on the needs of a prospective client and the industry they serve. My “How I Can Set Your Sales Team on Fire” cocktail has a different flavor, but a common base.
So can John.
So can you.
I challenge you to mix up one cocktail of you and share it with our LGL community.
Showing up confident in your own unique mix of talents, experience, and the scar tissue that makes you stronger lets the world know how you can best serve.
An absolutely terrific post Karin! I used to struggle with the same question for years, and came to a similar conclusion as you suggested – what is my unique blend of talents, skills, insight, and personality?
I think how you worded your response to John, mixing up your unique cocktail, give a great visual for others to frame this in a way that will equip them to come to a self-realization of what they bring to the table. Well done Karin, as always!
Paul
Paul, thanks so much for your kind words! Namaste.
Here’s my cocktail:
I’m a collaborative virtual assistant, business soft skills trainer and writer. I help principle-centered yet overwhelmed professionals maximize their time, take charge of their priorities, and connect well with others so they can joyfully excel in bringing hope and value to the world around them.
HOPE-I Help Overwhelmed Professionals Excel
Well this is fun, having so many people weigh in. Beth, that indeed describes you!
My uniqueness comes in my ability to bring people together to get things accomplished.
My experience with leadership styles at all levels in the organization, cross-functional team leadership(project based),driving for results while helping others see their value in the organization, helps me to connect the right dots at the right time to accomplish goals of all types—putting pieces of the puzzle together for leaders to make strong decisions.
Cheryl, I love it! Thanks for sharing.
What a great post! Speaking of LinkedIn, I am never satisfied with my LinkedIn profile. I have a hard time narrowing down my talents into a short list or glittery story. I am a person who enjoys working with words, taking something rough and making it neat. I have edited grants, manuscripts, dissertations, books, and written poetry that occasionally sings. I dabble in computer code. I volunteer and run school assemblies and write book reviews and I am on the Board of Directors of a non-profit that provides direct assistance to the homeless. I also enjoy getting my hands dirty. Last night I spent three hours patching drywall at a facility that relocates donated furniture and cars to those in need. Yet none of this is my “value proposition”. My value proposition is that when I take on a project, I am not satisfied unless I hear the customer tell me what was delivered exceeds expectations, and this let’s me know I did something right. My business card may say Business Analyst, but I am someone who delivers. In other words, while my job may be in Information Technology, I am always in the field of customer service.
David, Excellent! I think you’ve nailed it.
Great response from you Karin. You gave John something to think about…he is unique in his qualifications and it’s a great way to think of ourselves—as people who have unique talents and abilities. Everyone has a story…the key is excavating the significance of that story….
LaRae, I love the way you put that… excavating significance. Perfect.
Love what you did here Karin in helping leaders see their true value and worth!
I think we each need to identify experiences and interactions that have brought us success. Then step back and evaluate what we actually brought to the table that made us so special or unique in those situations. That identification becomes part of what we uniquely share with others. I also think we need to keep an open mind about what others say and realize that maybe we add value in places that we have never thought of.
Thanks for a wonderful process to explore our value proposition!
Terri, That’s a great way to think about the “how” of all this. Thanks for expanding the conversation.
Don’t get hung up about words change from “unique value proposition” … I know Dad said “don’t brag on yourself” BUT professional growth demands you answer the question “Why Me ?”
Larry, I so agree. And sometimes that’s starts with convincing ourselves, “why not me.” Thanks for joining the conversation. Namaste.
My Unique value proposition is get adjusted to the situation. It is boon & bane. As I am a perfectionist. Also know that always this world is with gaps. How to change this attitude.
Mahendra, Thanks so much. Very interesting insights. Thanks so much for sharing! Namaste.