Are You Contributing or Coasting in Your Career?

 

In life, there are assets and liabilities. An asset is a resource that brings value to others and a liability, on the other hand, is a responsibility or obligation. When it comes to your job, the question is simple: would you rather be an asset or a liability?

 

We all strive to be assets! But let’s acknowledge that no one is an asset 100% of the time—and that’s okay. There are moments when our performance doesn’t meet expectations, and that’s part of the growth process. However, if we want to consistently add value and thrive in our roles, we can take steps to close the gap between where we are and where we want to be.

 

How about a real life example? An employee in an analytics role is looking to build a dashboard for key company metrics. To prepare, she takes a free course on the software needed to build the report before the project even gets the green light. The employee loves what she does, she wanted the knowledge anyway. The outcomes helped the organization tie their outcomes to their strategy for employees, board members and even suppliers. She could have waited to be told what to do and when, this would have been good enough. Instead she added value in a visible way to the entire organization!

 

So, how do you become and stay an asset?

Creating value is at the heart of being an asset. The more value you create in a day, week, or hour, the more you contribute to the success of your team and company. But how do you consistently create value? Here are a few ways:

 

– Be a problem-solver: Don’t just identify issues—bring forward solutions. This mindset shows initiative and helps your team move forward.
– Engage deeply: Get involved in your work with purpose. When you find meaning in your tasks, you’ll naturally give more.
– Volunteer: Every meeting presents opportunities to step up. Be the person who takes on challenges and drives them to completion.
– Say “Yes”: I once met a plant leader who shared that his rise to leadership came because, during the pandemic, he said “yes” when others hesitated. Sometimes, saying yes to new challenges can open doors.

 

Becoming an asset is a mindset. It’s entrepreneurial. And it’s a competitive advantage to a leader or business that can cultivate an asset minded culture. And an advantage to an employee that excels at the concept! Being an asset is about engagement and awareness and about understanding the goals and future of your company. Your actions, if asset minded support the company on its journey.

 

Mind the Gap Between Where You Are and What You Can Be

 

Becoming an asset is a continual process of growth and learning. Are you investing in your own development by staying up to date with industry certifications, associations, or events? The more you learn, the more value you can bring!

Also, take the time to understand your company’s culture and what it means to be a great teammate. Your role goes beyond achieving metrics like OKRs and KPIs—consider how you’re contributing to the success of your team as a whole.

 

Seek Clarity

 

Expectations are rarely crystal clear and oftentimes it will be your responsibility to seek clarity when you need it. When you understand what’s expected of you, you can deliver better results. Don’t hesitate to ask questions or have discussions when things are unclear. Seeking out knowledge makes you more confident and better equipped to excel.

 

Avoid Liability Behaviors

 

We all have moments where we might slip into liability behaviors—those actions or inactions that prevent us from fully engaging and contributing at work. Here are some behaviors to be mindful of:

 

– Doing only the bare minimum and expecting advancement.
– Failing to actively participate or build relationships.
– Avoiding extra responsibilities or turning down opportunities to contribute.
– Clocking in and out with minimal engagement.

 

Merely meeting expectations isn’t enough to truly succeed. In fact, doing only what’s required can mean you’re barely meeting the baseline. To stand out, it’s essential to go beyond!

 

Shift Your Mindset

 

Becoming an asset requires a shift in mindset—a willingness to embrace growth and change. While some people prefer to stay in their comfort zone, achieving your goals often means adjusting your approach.

 

In today’s more employee-centric job market, there’s great opportunity for personal and professional growth. But as the market continues to evolve, it’s important to recognize that being an asset—someone who consistently adds value—will always be highly valued by employers.

 

By making small, strategic adjustments in how you approach your work, you can transform yourself into an indispensable asset for both your company and your career.

 

And here’s my question to you – how can your leader be a better asset to you? It’s a two-way street! A lot of my personal development goals center around how I can be an asset to my team and company. And if you are a leader, how do you push yourself to be a better asset for your team? Reply and let me know.

 

Until next time, friends.
Chris

---

Our book is now available as a paperback, hardback, and Kindle on Amazon. We hope you will check it out here!

---

If you enjoyed this article, I recommend reading these past Outside Insights posts:

Building Better Days: The Impact of Simple Intentions

23 Lessons from 23 Years in Business

Closing Your Gaps With See, Think, Act

---