How do you contribute to your organization? Are you good at what you do? Are you an expert? Are you reliable? Helpful? Conscientious? Hard working? Do you consistently do your part?


If you answered “yes” to those questions, you are most likely contributing. However, you might not be standing out from the crowd.


We all have two sources from which we can contribute: 1) our position/role and 2) our intrinsic values and behaviors.


Every role in an organization has a basic value proposition (assuming that it is performed competently). A teacher helps students learn, a nurse tends to the needs of a patient, a musician in a symphony play his or her part flawlessly. However, that contribution isn’t really theirs. It belongs to their role.


It doesn’t matter who is performing the role. If the person is competent, they will contribute. Even if the person is an expert, their value is still based on the role. The expertise just allows them to fully deliver that value. It’s true that people who stand out consistently deliver the contribution that comes from their role. However, they don’t stop there.


People who stand out contribute something unique to the organization – It could be the teacher who makes a special connection with his or her students or the musician who, in addition to playing with technical excellence, is able to bring a new interpretation to the song. In fact, the people who stand out aren’t always the best technically. Think of your favorite teacher, musician, entertainer, leader. What makes that person your favorite? It probably isn’t their technical expertise.


To start thinking about how to position your contribution, try this quick exercise. Draw the following diagram.

In the top half, write out the main contributions that you make based on your role. Then, on the bottom half, write the unique contributions that you’d like to bring to your role.


Assess the things that you are working on and their contribution on a regular basis. Compare them to the chart. Make sure that you are drawing as much as possible from the right side.


Make this the year that you separate yourself from your role. Continue to perform the job that is expected of you but bring more of yourself to it.


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Brad Kolar is the President of Kolar Associates, a leadership consulting and workforce productivity consulting firm. He can be reached at brad.kolar@kolarassociates.com.