Do you think that you are indispensable?
Discussion
During my career so far, I've worked with a number of people who have had the belief that they are indispensable, only for them to leave with zero impact.
My first ever 'proper' manager was quite an inspirational type who always advised me that noone was ever that important, which seems to have rung true so far.
Thoughts? Do you think your company would be worse off if you left? (Self employed people, I know what you're going to say
).
My first ever 'proper' manager was quite an inspirational type who always advised me that noone was ever that important, which seems to have rung true so far.
Thoughts? Do you think your company would be worse off if you left? (Self employed people, I know what you're going to say
).
I'm not idispensable, I'm not sure anyone is, in my opinion those that think their indipensible are those that do not share knowledge for one reason or another.
I'm guilty of this, more through lack of time and suitably astute people to pass on to than a want to be indispensable.
I resigned 4 weeks ago, 1 week left, I have been overwhelmed by the number of requests coming out of the woodwork for things that need doing before I leave.
I'm guilty of this, more through lack of time and suitably astute people to pass on to than a want to be indispensable.
I resigned 4 weeks ago, 1 week left, I have been overwhelmed by the number of requests coming out of the woodwork for things that need doing before I leave.
Frenchda said:
Far from indispensable but would be a real pain in ass to replace me 
Same for me.There is nobody in the world who has the same skills as me but that's not to say someone with similar skills couldn't muddle through (or indeed bring something unexpected and do a better job overall).
C
Blimey, you two (above) must think you're pretty special. I presume you work for very small businesses?
I also sign up to the philosophy that everyone is replaceable (and often not replaced at all) with no serious impact.
Same goes for people who make themselves ill by overworking themselves, thinking if they don't do keep on top of it all, the company will go bust.
Edit - I usually spend most of my job trying to prove I am dispensible, so that my team can get on with my job while I look for other things to do (PH mostly). Then I get either promoted or made redundant. Has worked for me these last few years...
I presume you work for very small businesses?I also sign up to the philosophy that everyone is replaceable (and often not replaced at all) with no serious impact.
Same goes for people who make themselves ill by overworking themselves, thinking if they don't do keep on top of it all, the company will go bust.
Edit - I usually spend most of my job trying to prove I am dispensible, so that my team can get on with my job while I look for other things to do (PH mostly). Then I get either promoted or made redundant. Has worked for me these last few years...
Edited by prand on Friday 26th July 14:48
Often those that think themselves indispensable get replaced and things actually improve as the replacement(s) take a fresh look at what actually needs doing, rather than trying to make themselves indispensable.
I've never been indispensable, but I did once enjoy meeting an old manager in a new company who said his main recollection of me was that he'd had to employ 6 people to replace me when I left!
How that happened I've no idea because I was seriously doing NOTHING on that contract after the first hour each day. I left because I was soooo bored.
I've never been indispensable, but I did once enjoy meeting an old manager in a new company who said his main recollection of me was that he'd had to employ 6 people to replace me when I left!
How that happened I've no idea because I was seriously doing NOTHING on that contract after the first hour each day. I left because I was soooo bored.
prand said:
Blimey, you two (above) must think you're pretty special. I presume you work for very small businesses?
I also sign up to the philosophy that everyone is replaceable (and often not replaced at all) with no serious impact.
Same goes for people who make themselves ill by overworking themselves, thinking if they don't do keep on top of it all, the company will go bust.
Edit - I usually spend most of my job trying to prove I am dispensible, so that my team can get on with my job while I look for other things to do (PH mostly). Then I get either promoted or made redundant. Has worked for me these last few years...
Quite the opposite (huge business), but I've written books on the stuff I specialise in, along with writing the certifications, doing the beta exams, handling critsits and the biggest customers etc etc. I presume you work for very small businesses?I also sign up to the philosophy that everyone is replaceable (and often not replaced at all) with no serious impact.
Same goes for people who make themselves ill by overworking themselves, thinking if they don't do keep on top of it all, the company will go bust.
Edit - I usually spend most of my job trying to prove I am dispensible, so that my team can get on with my job while I look for other things to do (PH mostly). Then I get either promoted or made redundant. Has worked for me these last few years...
It's not ego: there just aren't other people who have my skill/experience at the moment. I know the people worldwide who are closest.
C
myles1972 said:
Sorry to hear that, hope you have something lined up.
Im in the RAF, and as far from indispensable as it is possible to be.
Not yet, but a busy few weeks coming up, so not too bothered (yet!)Im in the RAF, and as far from indispensable as it is possible to be.
My son's RAF, and I hope being in a small team will keep him busy and employed.
Essel said:
myles1972 said:
Sorry to hear that, hope you have something lined up.
Im in the RAF, and as far from indispensable as it is possible to be.
Not yet, but a busy few weeks coming up, so not too bothered (yet!)Im in the RAF, and as far from indispensable as it is possible to be.
My son's RAF, and I hope being in a small team will keep him busy and employed.
What does your son do (if I may be so bold)?
prand said:
Blimey, you two (above) must think you're pretty special. I presume you work for very small businesses?
I'm similar to the two above. I lead the development team (3 developers) in a very small software company. I'm the only one who knows about half of our enormous code base. This is not simple CRUD type development either, it is very complex technical software. I presume you work for very small businesses?The company would survive fine without me but it would take another developer a long time to get up to speed on the complexity and variety of the scenarios our software must support.
myles1972 said:
There is plenty of work, just being divided amongst an ever dwindling number. One good thing is that we are approaching a number that seems to be the universally agreed force strength.
What does your son do (if I may be so bold)?
He'll be the one pointing a camera at you if you're doing something interesting. What does your son do (if I may be so bold)?
Used to be 1ACC till he retrained.There are only about 6-8 people in Europe who could directly replace me, but thousand’s who could come in and within 18 -24 months get to where I am now, so not indispensable but definitely expensive and slow to replace. As I resigned last week to take on a new role at another firm, I can see the challenge that my boss faces now.
I'm not indispensable but it would be inconvenient if i left/didn't come in.
I am the only on who knows all the passwords, usernames and various other little bits for my site, as such there is an email saved into my drafts that i update every time something changes. It would take about an hour to get IT to access the account and send it on to someone and my boss and a few colleagues know about it, and who to request access from in an emergency.
When having a heated discussion with him i have been known to tell my boss that if i left things would grind to a halt for at least 45 minutes.
Very few people are indispensable to a business, and if you have someone like that at your work then you should look to make them less vital.
I am the only on who knows all the passwords, usernames and various other little bits for my site, as such there is an email saved into my drafts that i update every time something changes. It would take about an hour to get IT to access the account and send it on to someone and my boss and a few colleagues know about it, and who to request access from in an emergency.
When having a heated discussion with him i have been known to tell my boss that if i left things would grind to a halt for at least 45 minutes.
Very few people are indispensable to a business, and if you have someone like that at your work then you should look to make them less vital.
CraigyMc said:
Quite the opposite (huge business), but I've written books on the stuff I specialise in, along with writing the certifications, doing the beta exams, handling critsits and the biggest customers etc etc.
It's not ego: there just aren't other people who have my skill/experience at the moment. I know the people worldwide who are closest.
C
Then you are one of the very few then, brilliant! Kudos to you It's not ego: there just aren't other people who have my skill/experience at the moment. I know the people worldwide who are closest.
C
prand said:
Blimey, you two (above) must think you're pretty special. I presume you work for very small businesses?
I also sign up to the philosophy that everyone is replaceable (and often not replaced at all) with no serious impact.
Same goes for people who make themselves ill by overworking themselves, thinking if they don't do keep on top of it all, the company will go bust.
Edit - I usually spend most of my job trying to prove I am dispensible, so that my team can get on with my job while I look for other things to do (PH mostly). Then I get either promoted or made redundant. Has worked for me these last few years...
Not at all special!! Just acquired a knowledge/client relationship base over the last 10 years that would take some time to replicate. Smallish firm (@12 mill turnover). Like I said not indispensable. I presume you work for very small businesses?I also sign up to the philosophy that everyone is replaceable (and often not replaced at all) with no serious impact.
Same goes for people who make themselves ill by overworking themselves, thinking if they don't do keep on top of it all, the company will go bust.
Edit - I usually spend most of my job trying to prove I am dispensible, so that my team can get on with my job while I look for other things to do (PH mostly). Then I get either promoted or made redundant. Has worked for me these last few years...
Edited by prand on Friday 26th July 14:48
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