“If you left your job tomorrow, what would actually break?”
I asked a Senior Manager this recently.
Long pause. Then: “Honestly? They’d be fine in 2-4 weeks.”
That hit hard.
He’d been there 6 years. Working 50-hour weeks. Delivering on time. Getting good reviews.
But nothing would break. And that’s the problem.
You’re working hard. You’re reliable. You’re busy.
But are you indispensable?
Here’s the uncomfortable truth:
If everything runs smoothly without you, you’re replaceable.
Leadership doesn’t promote people they can easily replace. They promote people they can’t afford to lose.
So ask yourself:
→ What critical process depends on you?
→ What relationship exists because of you?
→ What revenue/savings happened because of you?
→ What problem would go unsolved without you?
If you’re struggling to answer—you’re not invisible. You’re just not essential.
The difference between busy and indispensable:
Busy people: Execute tasks, respond to requests, keep things running
Indispensable people: Own outcomes, solve unrepeatable problems, create new value
Busy people: Can be replaced by anyone with similar skills
Indispensable people: Leave gaps that take months to fill
Your goal isn’t to be irreplaceable at tasks. It’s to be invaluable for outcomes.
Stop asking: “Am I doing my job well?”
Start asking: “If I left, what would break?”
If the answer is “nothing critical”—it’s time to change what you’re working on.
Your job security isn’t in being busy. It’s in being essential.
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