The Art Of Making Yourself Dispensable: Changing Our Stories!

"If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader." - John Quincy Adams, sixth President of the United States

We often find ourselves casting ourselves in a heroic role at work, believing that our unique skills and contributions make us so important… almost indispensable! Our ego might be attached to it, as it makes a feel loved and critical. This mindset can create a narrative where we are the only ones who can “save the day” in many ordinary situations. While it's wonderful to take pride in our work, this perception can trap us in our current roles and prevent others from stepping up.

Have you ever considered how the story you tell about yourself impacts how you can shape yours and others future and success?

To make a graceful transition in preparation for your next challenge, and to show alignment with our values of “team work”, empowerment and “we want the best for the organization” that we hear these days from almost every leader, it’s vital to shift this narrative from being the “hero” to being the “mentor”. The more we embrace the idea that our success lies in empowering others to replace us in their own way, the more we can pave the way for our own and everyone's growth.

Powerful question to ask yourself:

How aligned are my daily practices and stories I tell myself with “doing the best for the future, the team and the organization”?

Make Change Happen:

Here’s an exercise to help you reshape your narrative:

1. Reflect on what drives you: What makes you feel happier… that people acknowledge you “saving them or something” or that they can do it by themselves without you? Be honest with yourself about your feelings.?
2. Reflect on Your current practices and stories: Take a moment to write down the “stories” you tell yourself and others about your role. What are the key elements that highlight your “heroic” qualities? For example, do you often emphasize your unique skills, or the crisis you've resolved working long hours or how “you saw something no else did”??
3. Identify the Impact: If you would make your role available, how many people in your organization would feel ready to “step into it”?
4. Reframe Your Narrative and practices: What is it that you can do to inspire others to for your role with passion and feeling “they can do it”? What stories you can share to make others feel up to the challenge??
5. Try something new: Start small, by choosing one story about yourself you would like to challenge and one practice that will help you with it.?

In the upcoming newsletters, I’ll continue sharing insights and exercises to help you navigate your leadership challenges, ensuring that you deliver on your current role, you work to also leave a legacy while making room for others to step up and make yourself dispensable. If you haven’t subscribed yet, you can do so here.

Regards,

Fran Cherny

P.S. Feel free to share this email with your teams. Together, you can build a culture of collaboration and growth. Don’t forget to check out #BeTheChange for more insights on transformation and change.