How Do You Take My Sustainability For Competitive Advantage?

My students have asked this question many times; how can I take my sustainability for competitive advantage? For many, this type of question is a litmus test for all the various classes they are taking and the entire educational process. In short, any class that puts off this consideration will be a class that may not be well worth the time.

For many of today’s “have it all” professionals, sustainability has become paramount. In the corporate world, this has become a way of measuring performance. One would be surprised how many professionals take this very seriously. To do so, they typically take an assessment that compares their personal contributions to the company‘s efforts in sustainability. They then examine that against what they are expected to achieve.

The questions asked are telling. In order to take my sustainability for competitive advantage, one would need to be able to answer these: How would I evaluate my contributions to the success of the company? What are the positive and negative aspects of this personal or professional self-evaluation? How will I know if my actions are compatible with the overall strategies of the company?

These assessments are nothing more than personality tests. They are nothing more than ways for a business or professional to declare how they see themselves in the world. In other words, take my sustainability for competitive advantage quiz, and you are likely to turn up quite empty-handed. This is because the true test is not how you answer, but how you think.

I know what you are thinking–I thought that there was some hidden formula so that I could take my sustainability for competitive advantage quiz and get a bigger check from the company I worked for. No company will hand out a check to anyone unless they know that person personally. What I didn’t realize is that the assessment process isn’t all that innovative. They are just giving you a numerical score that basically boils down to your personal personality. After all, if the score is determined by your personality, why should you even bother to take it?

The answer to the question, “how do you take my sustainability for competitive advantage?” is very simple: find a way to make yourself more valuable. Many companies use personality tests as a way to determine if their potential employees have the right makeup for success. If you don’t believe me, just ask Tiger Woods and he’ll tell you how he has grown as a golfer simply by having a different personality. Companies should look for personality differences like these in their potential employees as a way to determine if their products or services will actually help them reach their set goals.

Your own personal brand can be the difference maker between success and failure of a company. How do you make your personal brand more valuable? Start by thinking about who your target audience is and what their needs are. Then, start building a brand that directly addresses their needs. For example, a company with children might consider buying a children’s app for parents to keep up with their child’s activities.

The first step to take when asking, “How do you take my sustainability for competitive advantage?” is to identify your own needs as a company. You must then look at the needs of your target market in order to determine how you can make your product or service more relevant to that market. Once you’ve figured out your target market, start looking at how your product or service differs from that market’s offerings. By doing this, you will not only ensure that you offer something unique, but you will also provide something that no other company can.