METHOD
Workscape Value Exchange Ledger™
Purpose
A Workscape Value Exchange Ledger™ visualises the flow of value in and out of a person’s workscape context. This enables an employee, volunteer or community contributor to make better decisions about their relationship to work-like activity by clarifying what supports their contribution, aspirations and motivation. It provides a structured way to identify and negotiate value elements — what they offer (IN) and what they seek to claim or co-create (OUT) — which helps them shape more fulfilling and sustainable activity in their workscape.
Method steps (basic)
The Workscape Value Element Cards (printed and digital) contains a booklet with the basic instructions for this method.
Method steps (extended, for an individual)
CRITICAL MINDSET: This method guides you to a personal perspective of the value you consciously seek to contribute, claim or create in your workscape. In the first instance, do not censor yourself in what you think others want you to contribute, claim or create.
A. Composing your Workscape Value Exchange Ledger™
1. Familiarise yourself with the Value Exchange Ledger™ concept (understanding that value is something different to values, and the ‘exchange’ is singular perspective of the ledger owner).
2. Identify what decision moment is your current context. For suggested instances of when value exchange exploration might be most useful, consult the Value-based Decision Moments poster.
3. Choose one or two perspectives for your workscape ledger: Current reality or desired future-oriented reality. (If you do both, you can compare the difference.)
4. Choose a time period for your ledger. We recommend no more than a 3-month time period looking forward for a desired ledger.
5. Do this method with Workscape Value Element cards deck (our product comes with a booklet of basic instructions and ledger worksheet/digital board). Download a fresh copy of the printable Workscape Value Exchange Ledger™ sheet (PDF), if needed.
To set your mindset before starting the activity, we recommend this little ritual:
Say “I have value to contribute” while holding the blue cards.
Say “I have value I seek” while holding the orange cards.
Say “I explore what is valuable to me in this moment of <decision moment from poster>” while pointing to spot on poster.
6. Follow the basic instructions.
7. As you select value elements and compose your ledger, here are some things to keep in mind:
- If you are wondering what any particular value element means — know that there isn’t a fixed definition. Ask yourself: What does this mean to me? If you can’t find any meaning, then you aren’t making a connection to it, so skip it and move on.
- For IN value elements of a desired perspective, focus on value you wish to consciously contribute. You may have all the value elements as value available to be contributed, but you are choosing a set to actively consciously contribute within the named context.
- Some value elements, like IN elements of TIME or ENERGY may be included in your ledger because there is a new expectation to be set and managed about the type or quantity of contribution. For example, your agreed work contract is for 37.5 hours a week but you have been working 45 hours a week, and you want to consciously reset your contribution to the baseline of 37.5 hours a week. Or another example — which isn’t contractually obligated — you may have been showing up with 90% of your ENERGY, however you are about to start a house-renovation project with your family, and want to reset your energy contribution at work to a lower level for next time-period.
- In having more than 7 cards on either side of a future-oriented ledger, there is a danger that focus will be diluted when enacting the ledger. It could be that the workscape context you set for this ledger is too broad and is attempting to capture multiple contexts. Consider making more than one ledger per context, each with a narrower focus.
8. With a ledger composed, capture this as a record (take a photo or a screenshot) and put it someone you can easily retrieve it.
Optional additional steps
9. Look at your completed ledger and translate each IN and OUT column value elements into something specific and tangible. It only has to have meaning for you.
Assign an appropriate measure or forms of evidence so you know ‘how much’ will be sufficient to your needs or desires. A rule of thumb is to think ahead when you will be reviewing your populated ledger: will you be able to say True or False as whether the value you defined was a reality?
TIP: Write your description or definition on small sticky notes that can be placed next to the printed cards on the ledger. If using cards in a digital room, use a Sticky Notes application to make sticky notes on your screen that can overlay the digital room screen.
Take your populated future-oriented ledger further and compose a Workscape Value Creation Plan to define the actions and responsibility necessary to realise your desires.
10. With your own completed future-oriented ledger (desired), share with colleagues/collaborators to explain and explore value propositions of you from different perspectives.
11. Invite colleagues/collaborators to create ledgers for themselves. Use this knowledge to enrich your working relationships, and explore possibilities of useful intersections between your ledger and theirs.
12. With your own completed ledgers (current and/or desired), compare these with an employer perspective and see what is common and what is different. It’s your choice about if there needs to be strong alignment, and how much alignment or fit you need.
To discover an employer (or management) perspective:
- Ask your Team Lead or Supervisor to use the value elements cards and define an Employer perspective (NOT their personal workscape perspective) of a) the Value IN they would find valuable to receive from employees, and b) the Value OUT they have in their power to help claim or create with employees.
- Use empathy to discern by yourself what might be valuable to them. (See Discern value for someone else method listed below)
B. Using your Workscape Value Exchange™ Ledger
The ledger is a tool to organise your thoughts about value, as well as a guide things that you want to make happen. It is the responsibility of the ledger owner to ensure the flows of value outlined on their ledger become a reality.
1. If you want to get very specific and create a mechanism for personal accountability, compose a Workscape Value Creation Plan to define the actions you (and others) will take to realise your desires.
2. Even without a Value Creation Plan, set appointments with yourself to check how things are tracking:
- At one month, and two month marks: A brief 15-min check-in to see how aligned your workscape choices are to the desired ledger, and adjust your actions or expectations as needed.
- At three months: A 60-min review to evaluate value contributed, claimed and created and determine what changes are worthy to make to your ledger. This can be a simple Yes/No evaluation: Did I get to contribute, claim or create value as stipulated on my ledger? What will I do about this next? It may lead to the creation of a new ledger for the next period.
Related methods
- Workscape Value Creation Plan method — a how-to guide for shaping a personal plan for creating desired value for a workscape
- Discern Value for Someone Else method — a how-to guide on discerning what is valuable to someone else when you don’t have the opportunity to ask them directly, or a direct question doesn’t produce a satisfactory answer
Advice for a teamleader
We provide coaching sessions for individuals who want a personal guide in undertaking this method for the first time. You may wish to purchase this service as a developmental opportunity for a member of your team.
You can get training for yourself to facilitate-coach this method. This is a 75-minute session after you’ve had your own personal coached experience; and comes with a comprehensive guide to lead individuals through the activity.
If you’d like your whole team to experience this method, as well as the Value Creation Plan method, consider the Value at Work team workshop. Contact us to explore this option.
Advice for a coach or guidance counsellor
We provide coaching sessions for individuals who want a personal guide in undertaking this method for the first time. You may wish to recommend that your client takes such an opportunity and then discusses their insights and reflections with you afterwards.
You can get training to facilitate-coach this method. This is a 60-75 minute session after you’ve had your own personal coached experience; and comes with a comprehensive guide to lead individuals through the activity.
This original content by RHX Group — product owner of value(x) — is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License, so it can be freely shared with attribution to the creator; it cannot be used for commercial purposes; and it cannot be modified.