Etchings on the Attic Wall

Highly Effective Work Habits:  Staying Indispensable

Salary.com recently published an article entitled “14 Ways to Stay Indispensable“.  And while there is never a guarantee you will stay indispensable, these tips will certainly help make it less desirable for an employer to get rid of you.  Here is the list they published:

1. Be noticeable.  Basically, put yourself out there, talk to people, and socialize.
2. Be a Team Player.  I’ve discussed this in a previous article.
3. Develop a Unique Knowledge Base or Skill.  Make sure you are an expert in one or more areas.  I’ll be discussing training more in a future topic.
4. Be Positive.  Negative people lead to negative results and will bring everyone down with them.  View my related article about positive attitude.
5. Cultivate a Life Outside of Work.  This can bring important skills into the workplace that you would be recognized for.
6. Learn More.  This is centered around training and is related to #3.
7. Pay Attention to the Decisions You Make.  In other words, always look at the big picture and make decisions that will help out the company.
8. Take Responsibility for Your Mistakes.  Admit to them and learn from them.  People who hide behind their mistakes and/or blame others just dig their own graves with their employer.
9. Rewrite Your Job Description.  Add more responsibilities to your job role, especially if your team/department is lacking in certain areas.  You employer will thank you for taking the initiative to help out.
10. Network.  This is important to keep you in the loop with people/organizations in your industry.  You might learn new skills or gain knowledge that would be helpful to your company.  There is a good blog out there called “Budget Tips: Surviving the Recession” and it has a related article about networking.
11. Share Your Knowledge and Experience.  I’ve discussed this in a previous article.
12. Stick it Out When the Going Gets Tough.  Everyone has rough patches at work.  The survivors keep going and don’t quit.
13. Say “Yes” to Opportunities that Come Your Way.  Your employer will see you as someone willing to do anything to help out the team.  It is all about being flexible.
14. Always Do Your Best, No Matter What the Task.  Don’t slack off on the simple or mundane tasks because those can sometimes standout more clearly as failures over your successes.