In reality, there is no such thing as being irreplaceable: in today’s work world, there is no way to guarantee that you will stay with your employer. If an organization is downsizing, or there is a new leadership team – a new manager who wants his/her own team – or a dramatic change in strategy, there is no guarantee that you will be the one staying with the organization. However, there are many things you can do to increase the odds that you are ‘irreplaceable,” to increase options in your career path.
Here are 7 things you can do to increase your staying power:
- Do your job better that it has ever been done before.
There is no substitute for doing excellent work. In order to become valued by the organization, you have to add value, every quarter, every month, every day. But good work alone is not necessarily enough. You have to set the bar higher and create a new standard for how the job could be done. Go beyond what the job requires and develop ways to improve how things are done. Increase efficiency, improve quality, and always deliver more than you promise.
- Bring enthusiasm, even joy, with you to work.
It’s not just about what you do that makes you valuable at work, it’s who you are! The enthusiasm and vitality you bring raises everyone’s level of energy and motivation. So maintain a positive attitude – be the person that others want to be with. Of course, the energy and spirit you bring to the environment must be authentic – genuine enthusiasm is hard to replace. So don’t let your negative thoughts about the boss or the organization show; and leave personal issues at home. And, when faced with challenges, offer solutions instead of complaints.
- Make your boss look good
There is certainly some political savvy involved in being seen as irreplaceable, and the first step in mastering this skill is to know who has immediate power over your reputation and options within your company – your boss. So make sure you know what his or her priorities are, and make them your own. Deliver the results your boss needs and you are closer to being irreplaceable!
- Build a network of supporters across, up and down your organization
Your boss isn’t the only relationship that matters. Take the initiative to build relationships throughout the organization. The more people who know who you are and what value you deliver, the more likely it is that you’ll have a place somewhere in the organization, even during tough times. Part of it is being liked, but more of it is being known. There are a lot of talented people who keep their heads down and build friendships across the organization. Take an interest in others; find out what they are doing and how their work connects with yours. Ask how you can help and offer to share your expertise without asking for anything in return. You should be making new contacts each week, and then be disciplined about maintaining these relationships. You never know when you’ll need them.
- Become current and conversant on what’s going on in your company and industry
Stay fresh and current. Doing your job is important, but you also need to make sure you’re building the skills that will be needed in the future, even if your company isn’t telling you to do so. Stay current on emerging technologies as well as best practices that impact your profession. Get active in professional associations; read professional journals; follow an intriguing blog or two. Participate in a couple of LinkedIn groups focused on your area of expertise. Do similar work around your company and industry so you can think about how to connect the emerging trends in your profession to the challenges your company is facing.
- Build a “T” career – deep expertise as well as broad capabilities.
By building deep expertise and skill in one area you become the go-to person for special problems. Being the expert in something is valuable, but it isn’t enough. You also must develop broad abilities that increase your versatility. You need to understand the context in which your deep expertise fits and be able to step into different roles as needed. If you want to be irreplaceable, master a rare set of rare skills or knowledge while also cultivating an ability to flex and fill in when needed. If a company is looking to cut, and you can play more than one part, you are more likely to stick around.
- Practice the art of Tactful Self-Promotion
The truth is, no matter how hard you work, or how much value you deliver, you still won’t get ahead if those in positions of power don’t know you exist, and don’t know what you do or what difference you’re making. And you can’t assume they will just notice on their own. No one has a greater interest in promotion your value than you do, so learn how to toot your own horn with out bragging. Our bi-weekly newsletter/blogs and our weekly tweets provide many concrete ideas for making yourself more visible.
Although there is no inoculation that can guarantee your job is safe, there is much you can do to strengthen the resilience of your career. Just as with your physical health, it comes down to good habits, being thoughtful about the actions you take, and focusing on preventive approaches instead of trying to intervene when things have gone wrong. Do just some of what we suggest here, and you will be much closer to the goal of being irreplaceable. And even if you find you aren’t irreplaceable, you’ll discover that these same habits will have set you up to make a much smoother transition to a new job. You can’t lose – these actions will help you. So what are you gong to do differently to move forward?
If you’d like more information on how to practice the Art of Tactful Self-Promotion, visit our website, www.tactfulselfpromotion.com, or look for our book, Power Your Career: The Art of Tactful Self-Promotion at Work, in bookstores or on Amazon.
Nancy Burke and Richard Dodson