What kind of resource are you? Are you the “go to” person who people come to for specific information? Most importantly, how are you positioning yourself as a valuable resource within your company or organization?
Professionals who invest the time to develop their abilities, skills and talents as a valuable resource are rewarded with more challenging project work, greater responsibilities and career advancement.
There are two ways to serve as a resource: Know the information that you are sharing and know the places to go for information.
When I started my first job out of college, I worked for an organization with a research department. I learned over time that one of the best resources within the organization was a woman who worked within the research department. If Ann didn’t know the answer immediately, she knew exactly where to go for the information. And isn’t that what a researcher does? I once got some ink on a white skirt. Ann knew the exact product to remove that ink! She earned the reputation as the go to person. She taught me early on in my career that each and every one of us can develop our ability to serve as a valuable resource within our company or organization.
Let me be clear about one thing: There is a big difference between a resource and a “know it all.” A “know it all” possesses a healthy ego, can be arrogant at times, can disregard your opinion as being inferior, and often forces information on you when you didn’t ask for it. A resource, on the other hand, provides the right information at the right time, considers the other person’s thoughts and opinions, and remains open, nonjudgmental and helpful. The aim of a resource is to provide appropriate assistance in the most direct and thorough way possible.
Observe the type of information that people request of you. Listen carefully to their questions. You will then see how others view you – and use you – as a resource. To help you understand more about your role as a resource, ask yourself these questions:
- Specifically, what kind of information do people request of me?
- On a broader scale, what general knowledge do I possess?
- If the question is outside my expertise, what other resources could be helpful?
- What do I need to do to position myself more effectively as a valuable resource?
Next week I will share some ideas to get you started on how to position yourself as a valuable resource. Until then, get busy answering the above questions.