5 Approaches to Becoming an Indispensable Employee: Lessons from 'Valuable Players'
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In her book "Valuable Players," leadership researcher and consultant Liz Wiseman uncovers why some employees become indispensable. Through interviews with 170 executives from companies such as Adobe, Google, and NASA, she identified practices that help individuals become workplace superstars.
Liz and her colleagues talked with managers from ten countries and asked them to name a team member whose activity has exceptional value. They then described that person's behavior and mindset. What does this person do? How do they approach their work? Why is their work so valuable?
The answers were surprisingly similar. Valuable players:
Being a valuable employee is like being a star, but not the only one in the sky. You can adopt the approaches and mindsets that make someone valuable.
The Prism of Possibilities
Regular employees do what they're told within the scope of their role. Valuable employees strive to be of service where they're most needed.
While others, noticing a bee, become afraid of the swarm, valuable employees learn to build hives and gather honey.
If you want to join the ranks of valuable employees, ask yourself: "Do I view problems through the lens of threats or opportunities?" "Do I see problems as obstacles, or understand that they are part of my job?"
Learn the Rules
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Every organization has its own culture - a set of values and norms that regulate behavior and decision-making. However, the declared culture rarely coincides with the actual one.
To succeed in any position, you need to decipher the actual culture.
Valuable employees actively work on this. They don't just read posters on the wall, but observe behavior in the corridors. They pay less attention to words and more attention to actions. They watch and ask questions. What kinds of accomplishments are celebrated here? Which groups have more power, and why? What does the fast track to dismissal look like?
Ego
What do you think makes managers trust employees less? The most common answer is, "When they simply do their job without considering the big picture." You need to be aware of the company's current problems and tasks.
In an ideal world, leaders would make the agenda clear. In reality, there's often not enough time to get the team up to speed. And sometimes the agenda seems incomplete, or is incomplete.
Valuable employees take responsibility for understanding the situation. They offer solutions, are proactive, and work to solve problems before they become critical. By doing so, they become invaluable to their team and company.
"If you're trying to find your way in the world of work, this book is your GPS. With thorough research and brilliant examples, Wiseman shows us how to do what we aren't taught in school—tackle ambiguous problems, overcome unforeseen obstacles, and hit moving targets," says writer Daniel Pink.
You will learn the secrets of the stars who perform at the highest level and be able to join their ranks.