Transform Your Earnings Game: 5 Strategies to Eliminate Underselling and Work Smarter, Not Harder
As a leadership coach, my passion lies in assisting clients in obtaining clarity and recognizing their goals with utmost clarity. However, I also focus on eliminating the mental obstacles that hinder progress.
One recurring challenge I notice is undervaluing oneself, even in high-achievers with impressive resumes and impeccable work ethic. This habit can limit opportunities and lead to burnout due to overwork.
High-achievers often diminish their accomplishments, either due to their own high standards or fear of appearing arrogant. This can result in a cycle of overworking, proving worth through overdelivering, and taking on additional tasks that go unacknowledged.
If you're a high-achiever feeling overwhelmed by the weight of burnout, it's essential to recognize and challenge these self-limiting beliefs. Here are five ways you may be undervaluing yourself and how to overcome them:
1. Evaluate Income Independently from Value
It's easy to equate income with worth. But many individuals are underpaid despite their significant contributions, while business owners often undercharge for their services. By tying your value to income, you may inadvertently work harder and longer to "earn" what you believe you deserve.
Instead, begin by separating your value from your income. Research market norms and standards in your industry to understand what others earn for similar work. Consult with professionals like coaches to price your offerings competitively. This self-awareness helps build self-confidence, allowing you to negotiate or charge with confidence.
2. Claim Your Entire Value
Regularly contributing beyond your job description without recognizing or communicating it leaves you overworked and underappreciated. Highlight your additional contributions by showcasing how they contribute to the overall team's success. Integrate these achievements into your resume, bio, or pitch to tell a more comprehensive story about your value.
3. Acknowledge Team Successes
In a team setting, it's crucial to acknowledge your part in the team's success without diminishing it. Your contributions are still valuable, even if you didn't lead the project from beginning to end. Recognize your role in the outcome while celebrating the team's success together.
4. Emphasize Past Wins
High achievers often focus solely on current accomplishments, neglecting significant past wins. Recognize these victories and the foundation of value they've built. Integrate them into your personal brand to alleviate the pressure to continuously prove yourself and reposition your value.
5. Recognize Your Unique Skills
What you excel at often feels ordinary, but this is where your true talent lies. Identify your strengths by seeking feedback from trusted colleagues, mentors, or peers. Focus on work that aligns with your strengths and talents, letting go of unnecessary overwork.
Undervaluing yourself limits opportunities and contributes to burnout by encouraging an endless pursuit of overworking. The key to breaking this cycle is to fully embrace your value. Recognize, communicate, and celebrate your achievements across all aspects of your life. By telling a story that truly highlights your accomplishments, you position yourself for growth, recognition, and opportunities that reflect your full potential.
To avoid the cycle of overworking and burnout caused by undervaluing yourself, consider seeking help from a personal branding coach. They can teach you how to upgrade your narrative and sell yourself effectively, ensuring you're not underselling your accomplishments.
Remember, overworking often comes from tying your value to income. By separating your value from your income and conducting market research, you'll better understand your worth and negotiate or charge competitively.
Additionally, claiming your entire value means integrating your additional contributions into your resume, bio, or pitch, showcasing how they contribute to the overall team's success.
In team settings, it's essential to acknowledge your role in successes while celebrating with your team. Recognizing and communicating your unique skills can also alleviate the need for constant overachievement, allowing you to focus on work that aligns with your strengths.
Ultimately, embracing your value and telling a story that truly highlights your accomplishments is crucial for breaking the cycle of overworking and limiting opportunities due to undervaluing yourself.
