Make Yourself Indispensable

Feeling "expendable" at work?

With recent economic uncertainty, continual "restructuring," and the increasing pace of change in the workplace, it's hard not to. In fact, many of us can be easily replaced.

Still, we all know that one person who has weathered recessions, layoffs, "downsizing," and "outsourcing" with a serene face and a steady paycheck. The question is:

How do you become that person?

Most people who enjoy long-lasting job security have made themselves essential to their employers. By taking proactive steps to manage their own careers, indispensable employees are always finding ways to contribute to the company and improve their own skills. Getting good at what they do isn't just about mastering job duties; it's about becoming one of the forces that moves the organization toward its goals -- not just going along for the ride.

How can you create your own job security by becoming indispensable to your employer? Keep these tips in mind:

  1. Own your career.

    Gone are the days in which a company might have recruited you out of college, raised you through the ranks, and thrown you a retirement party forty years later with a gold watch and a pension. Today, your career is yours -- and so is the responsibility for making sure you develop into the professional you want to become.

    Dive into career development by taking proactive steps like:

    • Lifelong learning. Figure out what skills would make you better at your work. Know your weaknesses and tackle them with formal or informal education.
    • Going the extra mile for credentials and certifications. Some certifications and credentials are job requirements; others are "nice extras." Treat them all like requirements and work toward obtaining and maintaining the full set.
    • Find a mentor. Your mentor should be willing and able to help you grow and develop in your chosen career, providing advice on education, job opportunities, and more.
    • Know your industry's trends. Read trade publications, participate in online discussions, and join professional organizations to stay up-to-date on your industry and its work. You'll be better placed to respond nimbly when changes occur.
  2. Connect with others.

    It's likely that many people in your field have similar skill sets to yours, as well as a similar set of talents -- things they are naturally good at and naturally drawn to. To make yourself indispensable, it isn't enough to be exceptionally skilled and impressively talented; you also need to cultivate the human element by connecting with your co-workers, supervisors, clients, and customers.

    In fact, if you cultivate human relationships, a noticeable weakness or particular lackluster skill might even go unnoticed during a restructuring. It's easy for managers to find someone with a particular skill they need. It's harder to terminate someone they genuinely know, like, and rely upon in tough situations. Think of the time you spend building relationships at work as time well spent in the quest to make yourself an essential part of the organization.

    While you're connecting with your team, don't forget your network. Keep in touch regularly with members of your network, even if it's just by dropping a quick email. You'll make it easier for members of your network to seek your help when they have a problem, and easier for you to seek out their advice, support, or recommendations when you need them.

  3. Solve problems.

    One trait that irreplaceable employees share is their solution-oriented approach. "The one who figures out how to fix the problem and then pitches in" is the person everyone wants on their team, and the last person any team wants to lose.

    Anyone can follow a task list or a job description. To become irreplaceable, think of these as your starting point, not your end goal. Engage your life-long learning skills to develop enough knowledge and practice in your field to identify potential problem areas, find solutions, and apply the solutions to solve or even prevent problems.

    When you're a problem solver, sometimes you have to point out problems as well. It's inevitable. But never let pointing out problems become your last task. Instead, always make it your first. Follow "we might have some trouble with X" with "but I think we can avoid it by doing Y" in order to move yourself from "naysayer" to "superstar necessity."

  4. Make your boss look good.

    Supporting your direct supervisor is the best way to keep your name "top of mind" when it comes time for a raise or promotion -- or to compile a list of "people we can't afford to lose." Go the extra mile by finding ways to become indispensable to your direct supervisor. Take tasks off your boss's plate whenever you can do so, while still completing your own job duties. Talk up your boss to his or her boss. Anticipate problems and find ways to correct them before they become your boss's problem -- and don't forget to mention you handled it.

    Two easy ways to make your boss's life easier without making your own life more difficult:

    • Learn where your boss's skills are weakest, and work to develop your own skills in that area. You'll move your own career development forward while you position yourself to become your boss's "go-to" person for that particular skill set or task.
    • Treat your boss with the same high level of respect you treat everyone. Think "Golden Rule" combined with a splash of "act for the job you want." If you were your own supervisor, you'd treat yourself like the respect-worthy, hardworking, worth-your-weight-in-gold team player you are, right? Treat your own boss and co-workers the same way.

    Is making yourself indispensable a tall order? Maybe. "Indispensable" is a big task. But simply by striving to prove that you're up to it, you demonstrate that you belong on the short list of people the company can't do without -- no matter how aggressive "restructuring" gets.