How To Be Indispensable At Work

Bruce Tulgan’s book, The Art of Being Indispensable at Work is all about how to win influence, beat overcommitment, and get the right things done in your workplace.

Tulgan says that what truly sets “go-to people” apart is how they think and what they do, including:

They understand the peculiar mathematics of real influence – doing the right thing for the long term.
They lead from wherever they are – going vertically before going sideways (or diagonally).
They know when to say no and how to say yes.
They work smart – creating checklists, step-by-step instructions, and professionalizing everything they do.
They finish what they start.
They get better and better at working together.
They promote “go-to-ism” – finding other indispensable people throughout the organization and building new go-to people whenever there’s a chance to do so.

Other characteristics of indispensable people, are:

Maintaining a positive attitude
Doubling down on hard work
Taking personal responsibility to get things done
Being creative and tenacious
Being consistent

And, when it comes to responding to criticism, Tulgan explains that indispensable people “genuinely take criticism seriously and with gratitude, and authentically take it as a valuable service that can help them get better, and can turn a potentially negative into a true positive.” He adds, “Plus, it makes such a favorable impression on people when you respond favorably to their criticism.”

Tulgan is a bestselling author, an adviser to business leaders throughout the world, and a keynote speaker.

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