When it comes to recognizing your accomplishments and achievements, it’s unlikely that your manager is aware of everything you’ve done. If you want to ensure that they’re aware of the value you bring to the organization and your personal return on investment (ROI), and with an economy that’s still on shaky ground, it’s especially important to make your contributions known on a regular basis and not wait for your annual performance review.
- Assess Your Capabilities
Ask yourself the following questions:
- What skills do you offer that bring value to your department and/or the organization as a whole?
- What distinguishes you from your peers (subject matter expert, experience with specific types of meetings/events, etc.)?
- What have you done to help your department achieve their goals?
- What are your notable achievements and/or accomplishments?
- Drill Down
Look beyond the basic skills it takes to plan a meeting or event. One example might be contract negotiations. How have your negotiating skills brought value to a meeting or series of meetings? Did they require complex negotiations and concessions? Were you able to meet or exceed expectations with those negotiations?
- Identify Your Strategic Influence
Instead of being viewed as just a logistics manager, you’ve become a strategic partner with your internal clients. You’ve begun asking more probing questions of your business partners that focus on the goals and objectives of the meeting and less on logistics. Note how your role as a strategic partner affected the overall success of the meeting. Example: Because of more innovative meeting formats that you recommended, in the event evaluation attendees responded that they retained an average of 25 percent more information than in previous years.
- Produce More-Efficient Meetings
Did you develop new tools or recommend a method that created efficiency? Maybe you suggested trying a new registration tracking system that resulted in more accurate attendance numbers. Based on that information, your business partner was able to identify which sessions had the highest attendance and cross-referenced that with the session evaluations to determine which topics and presenters they should consider repeating. This is just one example of a way you might influence the efficiency of a meeting or event.
- Personal Achievements
Sometimes your personal ROI might appear more subtle. Maybe you’re someone who consistently comes in under budget. Have you ever kept track of the percentage of savings you achieve with each meeting when it’s under budget? It could be the discount you negotiated with the team-building company or getting the hotel to waive the daily fitness center access fee. Calculate the cost savings (200 attendees x $15 per day = $3,000 x 3-day meeting = $9,000).
- Store Your Accomplishments
Make sure to create a copy of the file in your personal folder at work. Even if you’re noting your value on a regular basis, it’s a good idea to e-mail yourself the files you create recording your personal ROI. You should always have a back-up in case your work computer crashes or you’re unexpectedly given the dreaded “pink slip.”
Sheryl Sookman, CMP, is a senior event strategist at Kaiser Foundation Health Plan Inc. She is also the principal of The MeetingConnection, which offers career coaching and resume design services to individuals in the meetings industry. Her book on career strategies and resume design, Who’s In Charge of Your Career? Creating a Strategy for Success, is available through www.amazon.com.
