Are you irreplaceable at your job? Here’s what you should know-
Non-pareil. Ideal. Exceptional. Motivated- yes!
These are legitimate, compelling qualities that can certainly get you hired. But is that all? And, is that enough?
With the unceasing technological advancements and the countless budding minds looking to disrupt business models persistently, new-age systems, processes and numerous other arrows aiming at the bulls-eye that is your job- repeatedly proving that you are worthy can feel quite arduous. What is it that really retains you at your workplace?
- Why is personal branding important-
LinkedIn is filled to the brim with industry experts who boast of decades of experience in their chosen fields. And you could be one amongst them too. And that is, by being irreplaceable. Being irreplaceable stems from the fact that you can demonstrate not just being unique or ‘out of the box’ but also being able to carry a personal brand. Let me elaborate. Do you think being creative makes you irreplaceable?
While I completely stand by the fact that creativity is unique to a person, and creativity is original, fresh and can be associated with an idea, I’m not sure if it can be associated with a person. The reason I talk of personal branding is that it can define you over and above your creativity.
Creativity is needed to implement ideas. And implementation can be associated with a person- because that is personal branding. Personal branding involves demonstrating a lot more than your creative ideas. It involves showcasing how well you can deliver your ideas to fruition.
- Turning your ideas into irreplaceable strategies:
The thing with creative ideas is that they can occur to anybody, but the one who wins is the one that did something about them! Ideas need to be implemented. The strategy that you devise in order to implement your idea will be unique. It can, of course, be inspired from elsewhere. But it would still remain unique because of your circumstances. The way you can make an idea and its strategy unfold, is what shall define your personal branding. Consistency is a factor here, and it’s up for discussion another day. The point here is, even if two people miraculously get the same idea, and take inspiration from the same set of events, it is highly unlikely that both shall accomplish exactly identical results. Implementation is subjective, it is unique.
- The goal is creative strategies, not creative ideas-
Ideas can stem from anyone at the table who has the opportunity to voice their thoughts. If a creative solution is required, usually, teams gather to brainstorm one that will fix the obstacle at hand. So what happens then? Someone, anyone could be the bearer of good news and suggest the idea that sounds most promising. But so often, it is not them who would be leading the project. It’s those that have demonstrated abilities to execute projects successfully in the past. They are able to invoke a certain sense of confidence amongst their peers about gliding a project through completion. This is also what personal branding revolves around! Garnering faith in your abilities.
- Channelising idiosyncrasy in your role-
This is the set of the sails that will determine what direction your career shall move in. If cultivated early on, this skill can really enhance the value you bring to your organisation, and besides, it will carry forward with you throughout your career. Over time, this is what makes someone sought after- the personal touch they incorporate into any task they take on. Maintaining a unique identity in your work style is of so much importance because it not only acts as a plus if followed, but it does shut the door on a lot of opportunities that you could have bagged otherwise. People tend to associate someone with their unique style and this is why brands call influencers on board, companies hire preeminent leaders, people prefer works of particular artists, writers and more.
- Focussing on the bigger picture: Being operational hinders strategy-
While many focus on driving efficiency into daily tasks and shed unnecessary light on details, certain crucial factors tend to be overlooked. Devising a strategy and effectuating results for a project is a far cry from going “me first!” on the completion of tasks. Naturally, this approach is one of the biggest challenges in strategy implementation- and should be met head-on with keeping the end goal in mind at all times. This means going the extra mile- to make time to take on opportunities when everybody can’t. Always remember- completing your daily tasks is de rigueur, conventional. That by itself cannot make you irreplaceable.
Of course, following through with these aspects consistently is the key. Having an incredible work ethic can lead to getting your worth noticed, being known for it, and being sought for it. And so proving you’re worthy means walking your talk and keeping your word! That said, if this resonates at all, I suggest taking some time out to reflect on your work ethic & deciding how you want to incorporate these factors in the same!
