Bragging at work, even the humble kind, is generally not looked upon favorably. In performance appraisals where I have been required to rate myself, I feel I am treading on dangerous ground – too high and I’ll appear arrogant, too low and my superiors will suspect I know something that they don’t. In Show the Value of What You Do, authors Patricia and Jack Phillips offer a detailed process for showcasing the tangible value of your work product. Their short (~ 140 pp.) book makes use of numerous stories from their consulting practice to illustrate each step. Whether you are proposing a new program to senior management, or merely calling attention to your own value, there are many useful tips to be found here.
The best way to avoid being dismissed as a braggart is to back up claims and promises with compelling, credible evidence. The book is aimed at individuals trying to rescue a stalled career as well as team leaders who are gathering resources for a wider reaching goal. Though we live in a “show me” world”, the process for building a compelling case is often unclear. The authors state right up front that they will show individuals and teams how to measure success, how to change their thinking from merely completing activities to making significant, impactful investments, and how to project results to obtain future support.
We get a first glimpse of how difficult projects can be handled with the story of a Hospital Chaplain, a profession which most of us believe should be immune from bottom line accountability. The ultimate value of this activity will lie with the answer to “Was it worth it?”, and clear measures of patient outcomes are the aim here. The importance of good leadership is highlighted, as buy-in from those involved is key to a successful result. Critics can be deterred by considering several perspectives – hospital accountants may be focused on length of patient stays, while friends and family might care about less tangible things like spiritual support. This first chapter provides an overview of the process for showing value. <continue reading>
