Showcase How You Are Indispensable for Job Security
The Volatile, Uncertain, Complex, and Ambiguous (VUCA) world-of-work has made us question job security. Gone are the days when company loyalty made you feel protected during difficult times. All sectors from corporate to non-profit, and higher-education have deployed downsizing, reductions in force, and lay-offs to navigate tumultuous times.
Being indispensable in the current competitive world requires distinguishing yourself from the pack. The aim is to make yourself so vital to your organization that your absence would be significantly felt.
Elizabeth Perry wrote a piece for BetterUp and shared these thoughts,
“Being indispensable at work means being absolutely necessary. If you’re indispensable, you’re likely an authority on a particular subject the team needs to know about. This makes you irreplaceable and, thus, harder to let go. Making yourself indispensable at work isn’t just for you — it’s for the good of the company.”
ROI of Being Indispensable
The adage, “There’s no “I” in team” rings true since being indispensable is also about being a team player. The value you add will support and inspire your teammates. Alongside improved team dynamics, making yourself irreplaceable for your team come with certain advantages, like:
- Higher Sense of Job Security
- Opportunities for Special Projects or High-Profile Assignments
- Growth and Advancement
Action Steps for Becoming Indispensable
Guy Kawasaki’s new book, Think Remarkable shares savvy insight about how to transform your life and career to make a difference. His wisdom about becoming indispensable is important to share.
Develop Rare and Valuable Skills
- Identify unique skills in demand. Look for skills that are in high demand within your industry but are possessed by few—often because they are difficult, tedious, or time consuming.
- Commit to continuous learning. Dedicate time to hone these skills through courses, practice, and application. The more proficient you become, the more indispensable you are to your organization.
Set Exceptionally High Standards
- Become a problem-solver. Cultivate the ability to identify and solve problems. If you don’t know how to solve a problem, figure it out. Your goal should be to seldom, if ever, ask your boss how to do something.
- Deliver quality consistently. Strive for excellence in every task you undertake. High standards in your work will not only enhance your reputation but also make you a go-to person for important projects.
Make Your Boss Look Good
- Align with your boss’s goals. Understand your boss’s objectives and contribute directly to their success. When you make your boss look good, you look good. The rising tide floats all boats.
- Anticipate needs. Stay one step ahead by anticipating the needs of your boss and the organization. Taking initiative will make you an indispensable ally and done well, will make you a complementary superpower.
Becoming indispensable requires good judgment and discernment of what counts. When you make your boss look good, you’re showing that you understand how organizational success is interconnected. Indispensability is a reputation you develop daily via your actions and decisions.
Figure out what needs to be done in your organization and do it without being asked. Contribute where you have unique strengths and have a point of view to be seen and heard as a solution provider in your organization. When it comes time to reduce the workforce, ensuring that your outcomes are well known and valuable could be the deciding factor about your career future.
