In our careers, it’s good to become multi-skilled and indispensable in our roles. Yet it’s also true that becoming overly indispensable can be a mistake, because if our employer feels we cannot ever be replaced, we’ll never get a promotion of the chance to grow.
For this reason, it’s important to teach our employer, through appropriate actions and responses, to never take us for granted. Does this mean we have to be terse and negotiate every single action of ours? Of course not. But it does mean sticking up for ourselves where appropriate, knowing where we stand, and becoming the definition of an appreciating asset.
Smart employers can often see the potential in their staff and do everything to maximize it, not only to make use of those skills, but to keep the people they train around. With tools like LearningBank https://www.learningbank.io/platform/ – this is more than possible.
From the employee side, you may wish to consider some of the following advice so that your career is nothing if not supported by your own insight:
Underpromise & Overdeliver
It’s very easy to promise the world to an employer, particularly if you’ve just started a new job and wish to get in their good graces. But the truth is that most often, underpromising (so that the boss doesn’t get an inflated idea of who you are and what you’re willing to do for the same pay), and overdelivering (so that your good work takes them by surprise), will encourage them to prioritize you in all things. It will also make small extra-mile efforts you go to look so much better than someone who does this at the default, as strange as this seems.
Volunteer For Placements
It’s helpful to volunteer for placements as and when these are realistic for you to take. Not only does this provide you with a fantastic opportunity to get real-world experience (or simply to get out of the office), but it may allow you further proximity to your managers, or colleagues, or teams within the employment structure you’re part of. Placement experience goes great on your record, and helps you refer back to times you’ve gone out of your way to contribute to the business.
Make Your Overtime Stipulations Known
If you repeatedly accept overtime necessities when they’re asked of you, your employer may choose you before asking anyone else, and may even begin to expect this of you. If you’re a salaried employee you may not be paid extra for these hours, but furthermore, even if you’re paid hourly then this can eat into your healthy work/life balance. For this reason, it’s good to make your stipulations known, to learn how to use a professional ‘no’ once in a while, and when convenient and appropriate, to volunteer for overtime as necessary. This feeds into our former point about going above and beyond from time to time, but also not allowing yourself to be taken advantage of.
With this advice, you’re certain to prevent your employer from taking you for granted. It’s not hard to see where that benefit lies.
