Face it, the world had changed – and so has the definition of value in the workplace. Just getting the job done isn’t enough in our innovative, right-brained and creative world. Just showing up will earn you the honor of being the first to be laid off.

Back in March, my book Fire Up Your Employees and Smoke Your Competition was published. In it, I defined a process for all managers to learn how to attract, hire and retain great value-building employees. It outlines a step-by-step process to determine who is a good fit (who can do the job well), how to find those who have the talents to be successful in the job, and how to connect these “good fit” employees emotionally to their work to ensure they get fired up and passionate about their work. It is a formula to hire and keep the value-building employees. And as our recession endures, we continue to see the need for employees who do not just show up – there is no extra to carry anyone who does not add get the job done AND add great value. That means aall employees need to be fully engaged, thinking, inventing and finding opportunities.

So this message is for both employees and managers:
Managers – define your expectations of your employees, and hire/realign the right employee to the right job. The right employees are more connected to their work, be more innovative in their responses and add greater value. You must hire right, inspire right and connect right in order to activate employees’ value focus. Create a “value building” environment or you are out of business.

Employees – don’t show up at work expecting to just do your job; those days are over. In addition to getting your job done right, you must start sharing your thoughts about how to make the business better. You must become a greater part of the value building of the business. Add value or you are out.

Time for a team effort. Time to create a high contribution workplace and hire employees who feel compelled to make a significant difference. See the supporting perspectives shared by the NY Times columnist Thomas Friedman in his Op-Ed “The New Untouchables.”

“Adding value” is not the same as “doing your job.” Adding value is more important for both employees and managers.