Business Four surefire ways to become a value creator in your business or community Ana LopezFebruary 4, 20230138 views Manuel O. Mendez, Chief Executive Officer of Quotient limited. getty Each of us has the power to make a positive impact on the lives of others. While learning about value creation strategies early in my postgraduate studies, I found myself reflecting on how every interaction – be it with colleagues, family, mentors or even members within our wider community – is a value creation exercise . But what is value creation? The concept in business 101 is simple: it is a process that converts resources into something that meets the needs of others. Amazingly, I was lucky enough not only to learn about this concept in theory, but to see it in practice from some of my mentors. My father was the first person in my life to exude an air of inspiration that I quickly picked up on. He inspired me to think big and help others do the same. I also met someone early in my career who was the epitome of a value creator; my mentor, James D. Walton, always seemed to find a way to make a lasting impression by practicing what he preached. In his 25 years of building high-performing teams, James always said the key to his success was twofold. Find and hire the greats first, or those with the potential for greatness. Then provide an environment in which they can excel. James was a unique human being who understood his purpose in life and effortlessly found a way to meet the needs of others by uplifting them with his infectiously positive attitude. Everyone associated with him felt valued and empowered to figure out his purpose in life. His way of thinking influenced how I interacted with people, and I was always eager to apply the principles of value creation to determine what I could bring to the table in any business or social situation. This realization has greatly influenced my career as an executive in the world of diagnostics and patient care. Value creation is a core goal in healthcare. For the most part, you won’t work in this field if you aren’t passionate about changing people’s lives for the better. While the business side of healthcare is complex and often misunderstood given the intricate elements in value creation modeling and the bottom line, it all boils down to one question: what can we do to value and empower people make their lives a little bit easier, and in return leave the world a little bit better than before? The answer to this question can be broken down into four considered actions you can take to ensure you create value in your inner circles. 1. Be an agent of change. A spark of inspiration can create a ripple effect of positivity. Make people around you feel empowered to take action to implement their next brilliant idea. This can change one’s outlook and essentially change one’s life. 2. Connect on a deeper level. By listening empathetically to someone, you quickly understand what that person finds important. Learning what someone values holds the key to building effective trust and rapport and better serving them and the wider community in the future. 3. Drive impact. Be serious about the impact your interactions will have on others. Figure out where the win-win is by asking yourself what you can bring to the table to help make your community, workplace or your customer’s life better. 4. Lend a hand. As they say, if you can’t pay it back, pay it forward. By helping someone achieve their goals, you are showing gratitude for the times other people have helped you achieve yours. This investment will bring a rewarding feeling to your life and a lasting impact on theirs. I was lucky enough to have many impactful value creators in my inner circle, and I’ve come to realize that most people want to make a difference in the world. By taking the first step and practicing these simple actions, you’ll be helping others meet their needs—and that’s what life is all about, right? Let’s all strive to live up to our highest expectations. businessroundups.org Business Council is the premier growth and networking organization for entrepreneurs and leaders. Am I eligible?