What do you do to ensure that you provide value? What do you do to guarantee the satisfaction of your client, your employer?

Using the same case-study mindset and method I teach salespeople can assist in focusing on the value or solution.

What's a case-study?
Quite simply, a case-study is a write up of the what, how, and why of a project. It's a way to both categorize and quantify the projects and tasks you perform, and the value they provide.

Don't panic! I'm not suggesting that you formally publish these -- although the career benefits of publication are undeniable -- but that you produce them for you and the management you report to.

Also, length is not of great benefit here. You don't need to write pages upon pages of material. In fact, I advocate a single page whenever possible. Remember, we're quantifying value, not writing a manual. Your technical documentation is separate of this exercise.

Where do I start?
At the beginning, of course. A case-study includes the following key elements:

A client
This can be your employer, a specific department, or a manager.

A single paragraph write-up that explains who your client is will make identifying the value of your project much simpler. Also, as you'll discover when looking back over your year or tenure at an employer, you'll find that you served a great number of people. This information becomes valuable when you craft a new resume or during interviews. It'll indicate an understanding of the impact of your projects.

A challenge
Hopefully you undertake projects and tasks because there's some challenge to resolve or correct. Even ongoing maintenance falls into this category. What's the primary, and secondary, reasons for providing the service or undertaking the project?

This shouldn't be a technical dissertation. In fact, it's better to focus on the client's perception of the challenge. If you're working for non-technical management on a project, their perception of the challenge is likely to be wrapped in business terminology.

Write between one and three paragraphs on the challenge as perceived by your client (remember, manager, department, executive, employer).

A solution
What was the solution to the client's dilemma? Once again, not every technical detail here. You can allude to the technology used, but more important, what was the realized benefit your client experienced due to the work you performed? Increased efficiency, reduced error, better communication, etc. Quantify this, if possible.

Write between one and three paragraphs on the solution you created.

A conclusion
Finally, write a single paragraph that summarizes the above three items. It should identify the client, the challenge, and the solution. It should indicate, if applicable, any future projects or solutions that can be built onto, or because of, this one.

Note: There's an added benefit to viewing projects this way. As you begin to practice a case-study mindset, new projects will start to be evaluated and planned based on the three items identified above; client, challenge, solution. As you do so, your projects, and your work in general, will take on greater focus, more passion, and yield better results -- for both you and your client.