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A Crash Course in Adding Value

March 25, 2008

1. Tell the truth. Ironically, truth is often so scarce today that we assign an even higher value to it than we did in the past.
2. Practice personality power. What happens when you extend ourselves to others genuinely and enthusiastically.
3. Attract through artistry. We increase the value of things when we make them aesthetically pleasing.
4. Meet needs in advance. Often people forget about the details that need to be taken care of until the very last minute.  Anticipating how you can be of service to your neighbors is a magnanimous gesture that will create great value.
5. Add 'good stuff'. Such as enjoyment to another's day, enthusiasm, and humor.
6. Subtract 'bad stuff'. Such as waiting, defects, mistakes, irritation and frustration, and misinformation.
7. Simplify. Make it easier for people to get what they need from you.
8. Improve. Look for ways, big and small, to improve the quality of your work and interactions with others.
9. Surprise others. A thoughtful gesture surprises others and lifts their spirits.
10. Entertain others. People love to be entertained.  We pay closer attention, learn faster, and are more engaged when we're entertained (Sanborn, 2004, p. 52-60)."

Reference:  Sanborn, M. (2004).  The fred factor: how passion in your work and life can turn the ordinary into extraordinary.  New York: Doubleday.

The Fred Factor is available on loan from the Ohio State University Leadership Center.  To borrow this resource or any other resource, please go to the resource search page http://164.107.48.88/winnebago/index.asp?lib

Learn how the Ohio State University Leadership Center is strengthening tomorrow's leaders today at http://leadershipcenter.osu.edu

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Created: 2008-04-25, Updated: 2009-01-06