How to Make Yourself Indispensable

re: How to Make Yourself Indispensable

bertcol — Sat, 19 Jul 2008 14:31:08 GMT

Whoever developed this list must live in a different world than I do. Many of those tactics would get one labeled a 'crazy' and shunned in my world. My experience is that everyone wants everyone else to think like they do, and to know what they 'know'. What's more they would sooner die than be wrong.

re: How to Make Yourself Indispensable

bkpoole — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 04:15:37 GMT

It is so hard to find hard working people anymore. Everyone is out for themselves and what they can get. It is so refreshing to meet and work with someone who shows these qualities. They are so right on.

My motto is to treat others like I would want someone else to treat my family...to be honest and give a good days work. I hate laziness and lying ...but then again they usually go hand in hand in the work field.

re: How to Make Yourself Indispensable

natural harmonies — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 13:00:58 GMT

I agree with this article, except you can be replaced no matter how wonderful and drawn to you people are. taking these steps will help ensure you stay around longer and will definitely help you gain acceptance and popularity. Just remember to be true to yourself. Being genuine and not trying too hard to be something you are not goes a long way. Leave something to the imagination and be mysterious. Don't share every little detail of your life and talents with everyone. Keep them guessing because it makes you more interesting. It never hurts to volunteer at work for extra assignments that no one wants or to volunteer for charitable events outside/related to work. Finally, stay out of the gossip mill/grapevine at work. Keep your personal life (and your co-workers' personal lives) separate and private from work life.

re: How to Make Yourself Indispensable

Magnolia — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 01:37:30 GMT

Perhaps a willingness to do what others are unwilling to do moves one toward indispensability. Do the difficult, challenging, and less pleasant things that come your way and you could be looked upon as one who is hard to replace. Do it consistently with grace and style and you will become a leader.

re: How to Make Yourself Indispensable

Dr Rik — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 21:49:18 GMT

I think I have the eccentric part wired

re: How to Make Yourself Indispensable

Islander — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 20:28:34 GMT

I'm best at #8. I'm old enough to get away with being outrageous. I make people laugh all the time with my improbable statements and absurdities. Eccentric? You bet! You can find humor in almost anything...look for it & leave 'em laughing!

re: How to Make Yourself Indispensable

Musica — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 17:49:28 GMT

As my hubby always says "Nobody is irreplaceable" (I guess that goes for indispensable too). And yeah, I have to admit he's right. But... it's always good for you to do your best in the work you do, for however long it lasts!...

:) Love

re: How to Make Yourself Indispensable

mr12 — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 17:47:13 GMT

Indispensible huh. Dificult to do with all the over population and very negative people around you at all times. yet the only thing you can do is don't go negative or get to overzealous. It's all about perception not reality.

re: How to Make Yourself Indispensable

Alro — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 15:52:32 GMT

My attitude: get people to like and trust you so you can use them and their money. MWAHAHAHAHAHA!!

lol

actually, my motto is: I try to experience what it is to be a human in this earth/school while positively impacting people along the way : )

what I dont get is this: it is sooooooooooo easy to make people smile with a joke, a compliment etc. and so few people do it. I wish we had socialization classes in our schools for "being friendly" "figuring out others' needs" "resolving conflict without arguing" etc. can you imagine a generation of people who had a class like that once a year (and another one on basic finances?)

when I meet a young person who is curious and receptive, I tell them that the two most important things as far as social skills are concerned 1) the ability to communicate well and with some degree of eloquence 2) the ability to see things from others' perspectives.

re: How to Make Yourself Indispensable

Richardo — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 14:42:38 GMT

It's too Bad that in this country that today’s work force seems to believe that the go to person is just a suck-up when it is those people who know the business that end up as the CEO's of these business’s. Look at the major firms that built this country and you will see the people who made a difference all started at the bottom and learned the business as the rose in the ranks. These were the people who were the indispensable people who knew it all and asked the questions about the business, the so called suck-ups that everyone who was sitting on the butts disliked because they wanted something more than having a paycheck.... they wanted to make a difference and they did. Every small business would be a 1000 times better off if they had someone like this in their ranks. They may not stay there with this company but probably will go out on their own to start a business of their own and look for people like them selves that are the suck-up go to people.

re: How to Make Yourself Indispensable

OnlyTruth — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 14:08:12 GMT

I remember back in our ice cream days (the 70's) my husband loved a Friendly's sundae that featured coffee ice cream with a special sauce. All of a sudden it was no longer available and he would wax poetic about its gustatory perfection from time to time.

Years later I was in a PTO fundraiser meeting with a Friendly's representative. I queried her about this particular sundae and it turns out the sauce was a secret recipe developed by a gentleman who took it with him to his grave!

I think my husband would say that particular ice cream genious was indispensable;~)

re: How to Make Yourself Indispensable

Arizona — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 13:27:22 GMT

I am ill and haven't shown up for work for a year. Am I indespensable? No but they sure are having a difficult time finding someone to take my place.

re: How to Make Yourself Indispensable

TiaIsWorried — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 12:55:20 GMT

As a small business owner, former company turnaround specialist and professional headhunter, many of these suggestions will help.

But, too truly be the "go to" person/indispensible requires the following:

1. Work harder, with less complaining, than your co-workers.

2. Ask for more/tougher assignments

3. Under promise and then over deliver. Set the bar lower then blow it away.

4. Treat the company as if you own it

5. Stay out of the gossip mill

As a high school drop out who has risen to upper management, I can tell you that these are the "secrets" to success.

Problem is, in our award for showing up society, no one wants to put any effort into their jobs. As a manager I find that the "do the minimum", take the most time off and abuse the boss types are the vast majority of our population. Sad days and no wonder our jobs are leaving this country in droves.

re: How to Make Yourself Indispensable

Jack Root — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 10:48:17 GMT

This is a field that I have some expertise in. Making yourself indispensable does not mean "keeping information to yourself". It means doing your job in a manner that reflects the experience you have. When you keep information to yourself in the course of business you are telling everyone that you are insecure in your profession. The true professional manager will train those around him/her to take over if or when you take a bullet. (Fired, heart attack and etc.) This is called devotion to duty! Unfortunately we have the current labor pool to draw from, which includes persons who are "on the take"; persons who "have no morals", and persons who have parents who "did not do proper parenting". What we end up with is a labor pool that steals, cheats and lies about everything. Been there and seen that! After interviewing several thousand candidates for job positions you find that the good ones are those that are honest about their abilities.

re: How to Make Yourself Indispensable

Leee-la — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 10:07:39 GMT

Why not just be yourself while always attempting to be the best you can be and keep growing. How about just doing a great job at work.

Leila