Challenge yourself and don’t take the easy route.
Anybody can show up to work, do what their told, and clock out at the end of the day. To be a true asset to any team, you must understand what the goals are and find ways to help your team achieve them. The saying, “What got us here won’t get us there.” really holds true here!
Pick a skill or task and master it!
Being the go-to person for a specific task is where you want to be. Discover a skill or task that you enjoy doing and become an absolute master at it, so that others can rely on you for that one particular skill. Many times this opportunity will present itself when someone leaves the company or a new position is created. When the latter happens, always jump at the opportunity to help build a new position.
Be willing to give 110%.
Take a look at your job description. Now think to yourself, “Do I have the opportunity to give more to better myself and my company?” Odds are you probably have the opportunity to stick your neck out and give a little extra from time to time. For example, something happened where a co-worker was accidentally scheduled for two closings at the same time and you notice you are open during that time. Are you the person that jumps in and helps out, or sits back and waits for someone else to step up?
Work to make your supervisor’s job easier.
A pretty simple concept, right? At one point your supervisor was probably doing your job and as job duties piled up it ended up resulting in a job opening for you. If your supervisor can count on you to excel at your job it builds trust and makes you an indispensable team member.
Always be learning new things.
Always improve upon your skills. This shows that you’re committed to continuous improvement and can help you stand out from your peers. Be the person who management can turn to when an emergency arises and they need help.
Be productive, but remember that slow and steady wins the race.
Your job isn’t about being the first one to complete every task you’re given. You obviously want to be productive, but when you take your time and pay attention to detail, you’ll have fewer mistakes and discover more efficient ways to get things done.
Relationship building is key!
Life is all about relationships, both in your personal and professional life. Building deep and meaningful relationships with key clients makes you a indispensable asset because if you leave to join a competitor then your client will often leave with you.
Don’t be afraid to speak up.
If you think you have a great idea, then speak up! Your voice will get lost in a sea of complacent thought unless you speak up and deliver innovative ideas to help better your team and company.
Show commitment.
Show your supervisor that you’re committed to the company with your work ethic. We all start somewhere and if you work your tail off to show that you’re committed to being the best, opportunities will present themselves.
Business is all about finding a way to add value.
You just completed a successful closing, but you ask yourself: Is there anything else I could have done to make the process go more smoothly? Did I notice any bottlenecks within the closing process that we should take a closer look at? How could I have made the experience even more memorable for this new homeowner?
Think positive.
Having a positive mindset feeds so many things within a business! It keeps you going when you’re having a bad day, fosters a positive work environment and lifts others through difficult times. It’s easy to be negative or complain and that’s why positive people stand out and stay around.
Embrace change.
Whether we like it or not, things change all the time. If you’re willing to embrace change and help others embrace it, you will be indispensable in your workplace.
Find solutions to problems.
When you notice a problem, offer a solution instead of complaining about it.
Finally, nobody is truly indispensable.
The truth is, if you left, your company would probably be able to survive. Someone else will likely step up and fill in the role that you were previously in.
After that last bullet point you’re probably asking yourself, “Well what’s the point then?” The point is to understand that nobody is 100% indispensable, but you want yourself to be looked at as indispensable. With that being said, I challenge you to start thinking about how you can implement these practices everyday. I can almost guarantee that you will get so much more fulfillment out of your work if you dive in and truly make a difference for your team and company!