Top Ten Commandments for Recognizing and Affirming Your Worth at Work
I was chatting the other day—on International Women’s Day, no less—with a female friend about the pressures she felt at work.
The phrases ‘impostor syndrome’ and ‘overdelivering’ were mentioned. She works in a male-dominated company, and bitter experience has led her to internalize the idea that a woman needs to outperform the men around her to be taken seriously.
This is a familiar story for many women, although the experience varies depending on the professional area and the culture of the company or organisation.
Our conversation, however, eventually shifted from gender politics to a broader question: how can we know and affirm our own worth at work?
Here are my Top Ten Commandments for anyone—female or male—struggling in this area:
1. DEFINE YOUR DELIVERABLES
Be focused, proactive, and consistent. Don’t play the hero by setting impossible targets. Identify what counts as excellent performance in your book, and then clarify what it takes to deliver that. Keep working and adjusting to become your best, but remember, sometimes good enough is all you need. Aiming for greatness can sometimes get in our way.
2. KEEP TRACK OF YOUR ACCOMPLISHMENTS
Start a work journal or worksheet. At the end of each week, take a moment to reflect on what you accomplished, completed, or even just attempted. Remember, even when the outcome isn’t fully what you hoped for, there’s always some success in the experience. At the end of the month, look back at what you’ve done—not what’s left to do. When you notice your performance improving, you’ll naturally be more motivated to have a conversation with your employer about the rewards you deserve—without feeling pushy.
3. LEARNING
In today’s unpredictable economy, being open to learning amplifies your worth. Challenge yourself! Organizations want employees who can learn, adapt, and stretch out of their comfort zones. Take ownership of this yourself—don’t wait for your company to define your learning path. As your own career manager, this is your responsibility. And the act of learning something new can create unexpected positive outcomes.
4. MOTIVATION
We know motivation directly affects performance. To maintain and realise your worth, you must be in the driver’s seat of your career. Consistency in both your work behavior and work quality is key. Becoming indispensable in your role increases your worth and power. But be cautious: performing the same work every day only works if you’re doing it in the most impactful way. Keep adjusting and being mindful.
5. CHECK THE FACTS
Know the market value of your skills and experience. Do some research. See what people in your field are making and what responsibilities the position typically involves. Reach out to others and have those cups of coffee. Turn that comparison habit we all fall into to your advantage by making it a tool for understanding your market value.
6. SELF-AWARENESS
Engage in regular mental self-detox. Clear your mind of toxic sludge so you can become more self-aware. People who overestimate their worth tend to come off as arrogant or narcissistic, but those who know their worth are simply self-aware. Remember, people treat you the way you believe you deserve to be treated, so understand your behavior and the role you play within the workplace.
7. SET AND MANAGE EXPECTATIONS
It’s your job to set and manage expectations with your boss. It’s not enough for them to set expectations of you—be proactive in setting your own expectations, particularly when it comes to the resources you need to perform well. Don’t be afraid to place a value on your job and ask for what you need to excel.
8. COMMUNICATION
To show your worth and establish your value, you need to be an effective communicator. Develop success strategies like “Listening to understand and speaking to be understood.” Master the art of asserting yourself while saying “no” gracefully. This soft power can be a game-changer.
9. WORK-LIFE BALANCE
Do you accept time-poverty and constant stress as the price you must pay to avoid money-poverty? If so, something’s wrong. If you truly value your worth at work, you must also value your life outside of it. Ensure that your non-working hours aren’t just time to recharge for the next clock-in.
10. DRESS FOR SUCCESS
How you dress is a statement about where you are and what you believe you’re capable of achieving. It’s part of “Brand You.” Visualize yourself at the next level, and dress the part. You must act the part to get to where you want to go.Get to know that part intimately (yes: visualise it) and then—dress accordingly.
