The truth is everyone is replaceable....

“I’m indispensable”, I can’t tell you how many times over the past 28 years, I've heard that saying! In fact way back in 1993, I recall saying it myself after being told that my services were no longer required at a particular job. When confronted by a supervisor who decided that I was no longer a fit for the role, I arrogantly pronounced "Fine, this place will never run without me!". How wrong I was, within a few days my replacement had the venue running perfectly! The truth is that once we let our ego's get ahead of our ability we can lose sight of the fact that what we all do is not really unique.

The principles of security, risk, crisis and emergency management are all the same, what defines us as professionals is our interpretation of them and our ability to develop a deep understanding of their application. Does that mean that anyone can do the job? No, it stills takes many years of practical and academic experience to attain a level of skill that organisations can rely on during what is often the most difficult time of their existence. So given that it takes years, will that mean that someone who has been in the industry or a position for longer is better than a newer entrant? The answer may be a surprise…. For I believe that it is NO!

Over the past few years, I’ve worked alongside, and managed, many industry veterans and my overwhelming experience has been negative. All too often they are set in their ways, unable or unwilling to move with the times, content that they are safe and secure and protected by the inevitable “experience” or "cant do without" tag. Often seen as "indispensable", once you peel back the layers, it’s not hard to gain a new perspective on their actual abilities.

Don’t get me wrong, I also fall into the very same veteran category, however, I treat each new day, week, month, year as if it was my first, challenged not only by my own belief, but by an industry that is under pressure to transform and be more transparent. The often said throwaway line about us just being a “function that costs money”, will no longer cut the mustard as with increasing investment comes expectation around return on investment.

For so long our global industry has aimed for inclusion as a genuine business unit, independently judged as any other would in the corporate cycle. With that comes scrutiny, as well as the expectation that we will employ staff that are current, forward thinking and progressive in their outlook. It’s time for all of us to embrace the new and look to the future. As someone said to me once “Oh, yeah the last indispensable person just walked out the door”!