How to Make Yourself Indispensable
Let me ask you a question: could you disappear? If you didn’t show up at work tomorrow, if you weren’t home at 6:00 for dinner, if nobody ever heard from or saw you again, would it matter?
OK, these are depressing things to think about, but that’s exactly how many people feel, day in and day out, in their jobs and even at home. They feel unappreciated, unchallenged, ineffective, and in the end, completely irrelevant.
In some cases, it’s the situation itself, and if the paragraphs above describe you, you really need to be thinking about how you can change or get out of your situation. Maybe you work for jerks, maybe your job simply has nothing to offer society, maybe your marriage long since stopped working, maybe you’ve fallen in with a group of friends who ultimately aren’t very good friends.
But in most cases, it is what we bring to our jobs, our home lives, our social lives – or, more to the point, what we don’t bring – that leaves us feeling, well… disposable. And if you’re going to turn that around, you’re going to have to start by making some real changes in your life and in yourself.
None of the ideas below are easy – but none are impossible, either. All they require is that you make a conscious choice to make yourself indispensable, make a plan, and put that plan into action. You might be surprised at how much your life can change – and often, how quickly!
1. Network
One reason people can feel like they don’t matter is because they’re “out of the loop”, cut off from where things happen. In today’s world, this is practically inexcusable. The Internet as a whole is little more than a giant social networking tool, and tools explicitly for bringing people together – LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, FriendFeed, Skype, and on and on – abound.
Join and use one or two choice social networking tools. Off-line, select 10 or 20 people who are prominent in your field and introduce yourself to them. Write them letters or email, give them a call, leave comments on their blogs, whatever it takes to make yourself known and to show what you’re capable of. Don’t fawn; approach them as equals or, at least, as potential mentors.
Finally, join and become active in professional or recreational organizations – especially groups that are local to where you live and work. Use MeetUp to find local meetings of people who share your profession, interests, or hobbies.
2. Love
Both the easiest and hardest thing we humans do is love. It’s easy because we’re made for it, wired up in all sorts of ways to respond to and offer affection, social unity, and physical presence; it’s hard because to truly love means to make ourselves incredibly vulnerable and, in our society, it’s very hard to find it in ourselves to trust that deeply.
But try it. And not just with your partner, your kids, your parents and siblings – try to be a loving, caring person in all your relationships. I’m not suggesting you break any laws or anything, only that you approach every person you interact with as a person with their own needs, desires, and motivations and see how you can help them satisfy them. Look out for the people around you, be there when they need someone to lean on, and be open with them about your own life.
3. Excel
No, not the spreadsheet. Be excellent at something. Figure out the thing that is most satisfying to you and learn how to do it better than anyone else. That might mean a trip to the library, a couple of night classes, or a full graduate education. But whatever it means, do it – there are few specialities in this world so esoteric that there isn’t a powerful demand for people who do it incredibly well.
4. Create something
Your world changes when you create something and put it out into the world for everyone to benefit from, whether it’s a book, a blog, a painting, an invention, a magazine article, a weekly newsletter, a company, a piece of furniture, or a recipe. Partially it’s because suddenly you’re useful to someone, no matter how few, but mostly it’s because the things we create contain a little part of us, a spark of who we are – a spark that much of our society conspires to smother and hide away.
5. Innovate
Although innovation is a creative exercise, I’ve chosen to treat it as something different from creating something because innovation, to me, is about solving problems rather than personal expression. Yes, that’s an artificial distinction. Bear with me, please.
It would be an understatement to say that the world, and the people in it, have more problems than we know how to deal with. Some are extreme – hunger, pollution, illness. Some are less so – boredom, ennui, dissatisfaction. Figure out how to solve any of those problems, and you will be anything but disposable!
6. Make people feel good
Around here, we talk a lot about being productive, about avoiding distractions and keeping focused on your goals and overcoming procrastination. But as humans, it its crucially important that, at times, we be entertained. And it’s just as important, from time to time, that we be reassured. A joke, a compliment, an engaging discussion about the latest film or book – these things add a little light to the lives of those around you. Being the guy or gal people can trust to brighten up their day will always attract attention.
7. Share or teach what you know
As a teacher, I know first-hand the feeling of helping people to learn, of sharing a new way of looking at their world and giving them tools to make their own way in it. No matter what your areas of expertise are, there are people out there who want – no, need – to know it so they can have more power over their own destinies. It’s not all that hard to put together a class, seminar, or workshop on just about any topic – check with your local community college or university extension program for starters – but not all teaching needs to be formal instruction, either. Seek out opportunities to share what you know informally throughout the day.
8. Be eccentric
Eccentricity is valuable not just because it can be quite entertaining, but because it represents a significant difference in the way you view the world. While this can be alienating to some people – usually people who are already alienated by the rest of their lives – others will seek out and reward you handsomely for your insights.
How do you become eccentric? Short of taking lots of LSD, which I don’t advice, I’m really not sure. I include there because it’s one way to make yourself indispensable, not because it’s easy to do! But if you can’t just flip a switch and become eccentric, maybe you can learn the lesson eccentrics teach – to seek out the different. Closely examine your own life for the parts you’ve let be suppressed – or suppressed yourself – and bring them out into the light of day. Embrace the things you’ve worked so hard to hide.
That’s a start, anyway.
9. Make a difference
What matters in all these points is that you make a difference in people’s lives. Do that, and the world – or at least some of the world – will hang on your every action. As you go though your daily life, keep an eye out for the ways in which you can make a difference, however great or small. What little tweaks might make someone’s life or job a little bit easier? What systems or processes are just fundamentally wrong, and how would you fix them?
Adopt a difference-oriented mindset. Overthrow your commitment to the status quo, because the road to the status quo is littered with the husks of disposable people. Do that, and the rest will follow, and you will have become indispensable.
WRITER'S BIOGRAPHY
Dustin Wax
Dustin M. Wax is a freelance writer and project manager at Stepcase Lifehack. He is also the creator of The Writer's Technology Companion, a site devoted to the tools of the writing trade. When he's not writing, he teaches anthropology and gender studies in Las Vegas, NV. He is the author of Don't Be Stupid: A Guide to Learning, Studying, and Succeeding at College.
Follow him on Twitter: @dwax.
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Comments
Torley says on June 16th, 2008 at 11:16 am
I can definitely relate to many of the above, most notably #7 and #8! I’m happy you stated “Eccentricity”, because a lot of people try to shy away from it, and in hiding their positive quirks, they become gray, dull, and UN-distinguished.
A lot of people have eccentricities, and sometimes it’s a fun matter of playing them up more to amuse others (as Stephen Colbert so successfully does), and other times it involves indulging in something you’d gladly do anyway… IF only other people weren’t watching.
Eccentricity thus also provides a bedrock to share/show off skills others didn’t know you had! :)
Shanel Yang says on June 16th, 2008 at 11:45 am
Totally awesome post! You always seem to look at problems from a unique perspective and you’re not afraid to be eccentric. Thanks, Dustin!
Lauren - OfficeArrow.com says on June 16th, 2008 at 12:36 pm
These are some great suggestions. Along with sharing and teaching what you know, it’s important to teach others what you know so that you’re not stuck in a position with little chance of a promotion.
Ryan. says on June 16th, 2008 at 4:16 pm
Thank you very much for a great article. I’ve been wondering how I can make myself indespensible at my workplace and this article really helps!
Ann at One Bag Nation says on June 16th, 2008 at 5:03 pm
To me this list is as much about living a full and satisfying life as about becoming indispensable, though I see what you’re getting at.
These past couple of years I’ve learned how important a creative outlet is to me, and I’m embracing my eccentricity – it feels good! As the child of eccentric parents, I spent a good deal of my youth trying to fit in; what a relief to give that up!
Bingo says on June 16th, 2008 at 5:55 pm
This is the kind of things that we need, it’s a great article, thank for help us to be a best person every day!
My Life In a Cube says on June 16th, 2008 at 7:49 pm
#10: Make money
Dustin Wax says on June 16th, 2008 at 8:08 pm
My Life in a Cube: First of all, is that your *real* name? Second of all, while it does attract attention, I don’t think that counterfeiting is the way to go here.
OK, seriously, most people make money for their employers, their families, themselves. And if they were to disappear, I suppose their *income* would be missed — until they were replaced. But the point here is, how can a person become irreplacable (which I think would have made a better title — too bad I think of it a day later…). How would making money make you feel more indispensable?
Journeyer says on June 16th, 2008 at 8:15 pm
I have worked for a couple of companies during downsizing. Often I implemented strategies to make myself dispensible, eg by changing systems or introducing new ones. The irony was, that by doing these things, I made myself indispensible. I guess I was making my position dispensible and myself indispensible. I used a number of the strategies you have listed.
Pearl says on June 16th, 2008 at 10:53 pm
This is a great post. I used to feel like this when I was a student in college and it was awful. For me, numbers 7 and 9 did it for me; I became an English teacher with the JET Programme in Japan. Now there isn’t a day that I feel like I could drop off the planet and no one would notice. I think that teaching is one of the best ways you can connect with what you are truly capable of.
Provi says on June 17th, 2008 at 1:07 am
This is rather an ironic article to read considering the fact that I hate the job I currently work at because I simply don’t seem to have a knack for it, when I was SO good at my previous job, and I’m so dissapointed in myself.
Perhaps I can try some of these things to at least get me through the job, until I find a better one, where I can work on ALL of these.
1WineDude says on June 17th, 2008 at 9:53 am
Many of these are good things to do regardless of your career goals.
Having said that, the most impressive and rewarding careers are often built by deliberately making oneself dispensable. I.e., improving your area to the point that your role is not needed.
I can always find work for someone who can make their role dispensable – because I want them to duplicate their success in another (and another, and another) area that needs the same…
Sean T. says on June 17th, 2008 at 11:52 pm
A very well put together list. Many of these I have heard or read before, but you have added a couple new ones and summarized them succinctly.
Based on my experience I would suggest adding a tenth quality which combines the elements of #’s 3,4,5 and 9 called “Have Value”. The companies most of us work for appreciate the qualities you have outlined, however a contribution or success is short lived and fresh examples, even small ones, that show one’s merit to the company are needed on a regular basis to prove one’s self as a valuable employee. Those that contribute regularly (and not just critique) have value and become an asset for the company they work for making it very hard for them to justify their elimination.
Here’s a tip: if you see co-workers that have value in your company being laid off or disregarded, it’s time to get your resume passed around to that network you’ve been building in step #1!
:-)
Tim says on June 18th, 2008 at 6:24 am
On the surface this seems like sagely advice, but dispensability isn’t that bad! How will you ever be promoted if no-one can fill your shoes? How will your loved ones cope if they can’t get by without you. Indispensibility is really a recipe for stress! Dispensibility can be depressing but only if seen from the wrong POV; when I’m dead and gone, what’s left of my family had better get used to it damn quick because I won’t be coming back. I’ll be making the best of whatever the next life has in store. Accepting dispensibility is the secret to real freedom.
Tim says on June 18th, 2008 at 6:27 am
The points made above should still be considered as they have more to offer than just indispensability.
AnotherTechie says on June 18th, 2008 at 11:36 am
Like a few others have said, these are all great tips, but sometimes it doesn’t hurt to be “dispensable.” (as far as your job goes). Sure, we all like knowing that not many others can do our job as well as we can, but then when you want to take a vacation and there are problems that come up, who is the first person that they call? You!
I would hope that for most people, their families would see them as indispensable, but I’m sure that there are some who don’t. As Sean T. pointed out “having value” (in my opinion) is better than being indispensable.
Thanks for a great article!
Dustin Wax says on June 18th, 2008 at 11:47 am
I think we need to make a distinction — and maybe I should have done this from the start — between personal and professional despensability. It’s clear from the comments that making your *job* dispensable (by automating, for instance) is a pretty good thing to do, since it saves money and demonstrates competence. But when that’s the case, making your job dispensable makes *you* even more indispensable.
What I had in mind was making you indispensable as a person, not as a role-filler. You might move through various roles, but you are still important to the people around you. When it comes to family, I think it’s the same thing — they shouldn’t be out on the street because you’re not around, but they should certainly miss your presence!
KC says on June 18th, 2008 at 9:59 pm
Unlike the author, I advise taking lots of LSD :)
Should solve the problem! No, really, it makes you fucking happy as shit. Nothing like a good ol’ drop of acid to get out of that funk.
Andrew Scotchmer says on June 19th, 2008 at 3:27 am
I wrote a similiar post a few days ago but focused on… finding yourself a niche.
Volunteer for the jobs no-one else wants to do and excel in them. Make yourself indispensible by becoming an “expert” in some aspect of your job nobody else knows anything about or can be bothered to learn.
Not only will that make you indispensible, it will also bring you to the attention of your seniors and may lead to promotion.
That’s what I do as a contractor and I’m never out of work. In saying that though I do love the eccentricity bit – I think I’ll try that one myself.
Pril says on June 20th, 2008 at 10:26 am
Well i don’t agree that being Indispensable is the way to go.. if your indispensable yes your granted your job.. but your not going to get promoted either!!
Just put passion into your job and do something you enjoy doing. that way your happy! and being happy is the key not being Indispensable…
Chapman says on July 1st, 2008 at 8:07 am
You’re so right. I feel like I’ve been stuck in the same post for sooo long because of this. In the end I handed in my notice, I’m working my notice at the moment, having found a way to get some residual income through Forex (see my website) and spend a few years studying instead.