Showcase How You Are Indispensable at Work
During the height of the recession, professionals who feared the proverbial pink slip fared better than others when they proved how they were indispensable in their workplace. Even as we claw our way out of the slow economy and the job market begins to level, it’s more important than ever to illustrate why you are of value on your team and to prove it on a regular basis.
Executive Coach, Mark Samuel has some great ideas we can all implement from his new book: “Making Yourself Indispensable” as summarized in a great Forbes article by Deborah L. Jacobs.
Help others – “me oriented” people focus on their own success at the expense and exclusion of their colleagues. Focus on being “we oriented” without any expectation of personal benefit.
Aim high – dedicate yourself to high standards of performance, teamwork, and communication. Mediocrity will get you nowhere – always aim to do your best and support co-workers and supervisors.
Be adaptable – change is constant so be open and flexible to new technology and working conditions. Even better if you can anticipate and stay ahead of the curve!
Keep commitments – be a professional your colleagues can depend on and when a problem arises, address it immediately and provide an alternative solution.
Play big – don’t limit yourself to your job description. Go above and beyond to support your team and expand your role by taking on new challenges that need attention.
Be a resource – invest the time to be a resource for information, contacts, or problem solving. You colleagues will identify you as the go-to professional and seek out your wisdom.
Build your human capital – no matter how experienced you are, continue to learn new skills and improve your performance. Professional development is a life-long process.
Turn adversity to advantage – persevere to achieve your goals and showcase your resilience. Use the difficulties you’ve encountered to overcome and improve.
Don’t work in isolation – getting other perspectives can help refine your ideas. Reach out to others for input and professional wisdom.
Show appreciation – acknowledging the contributions of others by celebrating their achievements will boost morale and help bring a team closer together.
