As workers who tend a fig tree are allowed to eat the fruit, so workers who protect their employer’s interests will be rewarded.
Proverbs 27 :18 NLT
I have discovered that there are three things that make people indispensable at work. Having either of these three things can keep you around up to a point; but having all three combined make you indispensable.
First and foremost, the foundation is trust. Some people you keep around purely because you can trust them. My sister kept her maid for years, despite her many limitations, because she TRUSTED that she would not hurt her daughter. My former boss kept his personal assistant for years because, but he could trust him with his personal information. His assistant was discrete and trustworthy, and never abused his access to privileged information. They both knew these were not the ‘’go-to’’ people for certain things, but there was a place reserved for them based on trust. You see, trust is scarce – when you find it, you keep it and work around it.
Beyond trust, is diligence. Layer on diligence to trust and you become more valuable. A hardworking person that you can trust. You know if you show them what needs to be done, you can trust them to get it done and get it done well. They apply diligence to all they do. If something goes wrong, they don’t hide it, because they can be trusted.
The truly indispensable worker takes this a level higher and adds knowledge to the mix. They are knowledgeable, so they can solve problems. These are true burden bearers because they are knowledgeable enough to come up with solutions; diligent enough to see it through and trusted enough to do it the way you would want it done.
Trust. Diligence. Knowledge. When you find people with all three – hold on to them. More importantly, aspire to be that person.