Making yourself indispensable at work is an important way to ensure job security and gain respect from both your coworkers and supervisor.
It can also result in increased job satisfaction and help you attain your career goals. Being indispensable requires strong dedication, effort and work ethic.
In this article, we will discuss 15 ways you can become indispensable in your role.
1. Maintain high standards
Try to aim for excellence in everything you do, and demonstrate a constant work ethic. Review employer and client expectations regularly, and measure yourself against them. Aligning yourself with expectations will help you maintain the standards your employer looks for.
2. Go beyond expectations
Accepting extra responsibilities will show you are dedicated to your role and the company. For example, volunteer when your manager needs members for a special project. Another great way to do more than expected is to read the job description for the role above yours. Doing so can help you prepare for a promotion and do more senior tasks in your day-to-day work. You can also ask your supervisor about any available opportunities such as taking the lead on a project, starting a team initiative or leading team building activities such as lunches, parties or outings.
3. Know the office dynamics
Pay attention to your surroundings and how different roles in the office function. With this knowledge, you can better understand how you fit into the dynamic and identify needs that you can help address. Consider asking coworkers if they need additional help if you have time. If your company has a directory or organizational chart, study it so you can match names with titles and faces. You can then recognize people when you see them in the workplace and understand how they fit in the organization and how you might work together.
4. Develop an exclusive skill
Try to find a task that your team needs to complete and become the best person or only person who does it. You can be the one who others go to for help with this particular task or skill. For example, master a certain spreadsheet technique or computer program your company uses. Becoming a subject matter expert gives you the ability to teach others who need the skill, adding value to your team and improving their ability to achieve goals.
5. Be trustworthy
You can demonstrate your trustworthiness by consistently completing your assigned tasks correctly and on time. When coworkers ask for feedback, be honest and offer constructive comments. Your team and manager will be more likely to rely on you.
6. Add value to every transaction
Whether it is an important client meeting or a casual conversation during lunch, try to leave a positive impression on people you interact with. Show interest in other people’s lives and work. This attitude may make people feel inclined to include you in future projects and decisions.
7. Collaborate
Make a practice of including others. Listening to and implementing input can help you become a great team player. Teamwork is often key to success, and working well with others will help make you indispensable. To collaborate more with your coworkers, work together to create team goals you can accomplish as a group. You can increase collaborative conversations by regularly holding team meetings.
8. Generate new ideas
Look for ways you can improve any aspect of your role or work environment, and take your ideas to your supervisor. For example, if you notice your team could save more time on a lengthy process, talk to your manager about your solution.
9. Develop relationships
Try to cultivate relationships with coworkers, supervisors and clients to engage in your work community. It is helpful to maintain a professional network to gain a fresh perspective and new ideas. To build your network, you can attend company outings and connect with clients as much as possible.
10. Stay focused
Pay attention to any distractions you experience during the workday, and then make a plan to eliminate them. You can accomplish more and demonstrate your dedication when you give your full attention to your work. For example, if you notice you spend a portion of your time checking your phone for personal messages, try putting your phone in an inaccessible place until you have a break. Keep in mind that it is normal and healthy to take regularly-scheduled, short breaks—in fact, it will likely increase your productivity overall. Consider taking a short walk, having stand-up meetings or doing some light stretches.
11. Stay up to date on best practices
Research, practice or take courses to ensure that you are up to date on all the skills you need for your position. You will be indispensable if you are knowledgeable in the areas your team focuses on. See if you can learn something new that could expand your role or improve your company. Check with your manager to see if there are training courses available at your organization where you can learn more about your role or expand your current skill set.
12. Cultivate communication skills
Written, verbal and nonverbal communication skills are all essential to maintaining an active role in the workplace. To practice, pay attention to the way your coworkers respond to your conversations. You can also ask for constructive feedback. For nonverbal communication skills, remember to maintain good posture and make eye contact to show you are engaged in conversations.
13. Be adaptable
The ability to accept change is vital to staying relevant and necessary in your work environment. Showing your adaptability can demonstrate that you are willing to take on new responsibilities and grow in your role. For example, if your company introduces new software that you must use, show that you are enthusiastic about learning it by asking questions or participating in a training program.
14. Appreciate and acknowledge
Find ways to show your appreciation of others. For example, if someone assisted you with a task when you were busy, thank them for their help. If a team member exceeded expectations, compliment them on their hard work. Acknowledging your team’s efforts will show that you are invested in their success.
15. Be a negotiator
Good negotiation skills can improve your performance and your relationships with clients, coworkers and supervisors. You may have to negotiate with your team to find a common solution. Your negotiation skills can help you find that solution quickly. Build rapport with your team and let clients understand that compromise is part of the process and try to practice negotiating as much as possible.
