You might have heard the saying, “You’re not paid according to how hard you work; you’re paid according to how hard you are to replace.” This statement highlights the importance of making yourself indispensable in the workplace. Organizations often go to great lengths to retain employees who are seen as critical to their operations, so how do you become one of those employees? How do you grow in unexpected ways?
Here are five steps to help you become indispensable at work.
- Build relationships at all levels of community. Be friendly and approachable to everyone. Hard skills may get you hired, but soft skills will get you promoted. Get along with all types of people, even if you don’t like them. Remember that part of your network is your net worth and that your relationships can open doors for you.
- Do work that matters to your boss. Align your priorities with those of your manager. Remember that having a good boss is more important than being in a good company. Trust is a two-way street, so if you want a boss who looks out for you, you must also do your part to earn their trust.
- Improve expertise in tasks that are critical to the organization. Be so good that people have to work with you. Seize opportunities to step up when someone with a unique skill leaves the company or when a new initiative requires a skill the company has never had before.
- Conquer your inner self. Don’t blame others for your failures. Blaming others is a subconscious way to avoid responsibility and ignore some truths about yourself. Your success or failure in life or at work isn’t about other people; it’s about your procrastination and excuses. Winners focus on winning, not on outgrowing others. Obstacles can be stepping stones to make you stronger, so the more you overcome, the stronger you become. When you can’t change a situation, change yourself. Intelligence is the ability to adapt to change.
- Start right this second. Don’t procrastinate on tasks that you should be doing. Break down large tasks into smaller ones and start with something small. Don’t wait to be in the mood to do something; action often leads to motivation.
By following these steps, you can become a valuable asset to your organization and grow in ways you never thought possible.