The concept of personal
return on investment (ROI) is one that's been steadily gaining currency
in the business world over the past few years. While the term can be
defined in several ways, in common usage it's just what it sounds like:
the investment potential that you, as an employee, offer to your
company.
And like any other resource,
you're only as good as your ROI. The harsh realities of survival in the
Great Recession have hammered this point home to employers and employees
alike. As a modern worker, you've got to be hardnosed about
your ultimate value to your employer. You ignore this at your peril.
Perform a tough, even brutal
self-assessment of your value, focusing on these factors:
- What are you really good at?
- What makes you special?
- What distinguishes you from your peers?
- How do you personally help the company achieve its corporate goals?
As a business resource, your
value is dollar-driven. A good rule of thumb is that you should be able
to prove that you've earned or saved the company at least three times
your base salary every single year.
You may not be able to
provide a specific dollar amount or percentage for your personal ROI,
but you should be able to demonstrate the fact that, without you, the
company would be worse off.
And never forget this: you
can't assume that anyone will automatically realize your worth. So in
addition to being able to prove your ROI when called upon, you need to
be proactive about stepping forward and demonstrating that hiring you
was a positive investment decision. This is especially true if you feel
you're undervalued. As the saying goes, the squeaky wheel gets the
grease; but be careful here, because obnoxious squeakiness can get you
the boot instead.
Demonstrate by your actions
and initiative that you're worthy. Then, be politely assertive, though
not aggressive, in pointing out your personal ROI to those who matter in
your organization-so that you can maximize your value both to the
company and to yourself.
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