if my just was redundant, i’d quit before they ‘rightsized’ me!

I’d say that I likely fall into the irreplaceable column at my workplace and as it has been recognized more and more by my employer, my wage has increased significantly.

Sure, it’s not a really a “promotion”, but in the end, for your typical office worker, more often than not, it’s about the money, not the title.

Now here’s to hoping I’m not replaced. ;)

While some seem to be critiquing the laziness (as it were) of being irreplaceable, it seems to me like something you’re constantly working at. You’re developing more skills, moving to new positions, and being damn valuable while you do it.

Charles de Gaulle

The only way to make yourself truly irreplaceable is to be an absolute top performer. This doesn’t have to mean working MORE, it means working better/faster/more efficiently.

That said, the fact that you are driven to teach others your skills and continue learning new skills is what makes you an asset. Those are the types of skills that you can’t interview for and are harder to replace in a newer, younger, cheaper worker. When management is looking for people to lay off they are hopefully less likely to replace the leaders in a group than they are the ones who just go about their job hoarding their knowledge trying to become irreplaceable.

Being valued for your work and skills is what should mark someone as irreplaceable, because you are too valuable to the company to be replaced.

Your former boss, I wish her well, from the reasons you left, that may NOT be her strong point and she may have difficulty landing another managerial position

I just started a new job a month ago and what I find is that there are a lot of people in our company who have a lot of special knowledge that is not being transferred to anybody new. So when these people retire or pass away, the company will get set behind a lot. Companies are generally too focused on the short term and making money today to be bothered with establishing a firm foundation of knowledge by transferring it properly for the future. Part of this may be due to people intentionally trying to become irreplaceable though.

UH2L

I find it a little boring, so it’s not my bag. I also find it a bit unwise because there’s rarely such thing as forever in IT anymore – jobs come and go. So focusing solely on the tasks that are valuable to your position only can, in fact, be very detrimental to your career.

If, however, you would like to be seen as a leader, a team player, a good mentor, all the POSITIVE things that are fairly universal in the workforce, then you’ll share information as Flexo’s doing by teaching others.

Cheerio specialists!

Everyone is replacable – good team members who are eager to learn and share what they learn will have a nice career arc. Those concerned with making themselves irreplacable will be slaves to thier current positions until they retire.

I have several militant coworkers in management positions that all seem to be excelling in their careers. They are abhorred by coworkers and they truly believe that the can not be replaced.

I have diligently worked for the same company for 21 years. I have gladly shared my knowledge in the Excel, Word and general computer arena. Coworkers in my building know I have an MIS background and usually come to me or call be before they call MIS because they know that I can usually resolve their issues more timely. They know that I will show them what I did so they can solve the problem in the future on their own.

I strive each day to be a strong Christian witness and to treat coworkers as I want to be treated. This is difficult while working for my present employer. I have been juggled to many different departments and have been forced into a position that I don’t want to have. To reward me for my dedication, they cut my pay by a third in my last job reassignment.

I have been criticized in my prior job performance evaluations for doing to much work for my coworkers. I was told to dictate to my team members each day what they must do. I feet is ignorant and demeaning to tell team members what to do when they are efficient at their work and know what to do. My feelings are that you get down in the trenches and dig out together. This concept has gained me much respect from my peers, but no monetary recognition.

The long and short of it is that I have been pursuing a new career for about two years with no luck. I am sticking with the current employer until I am blessed with a better opportunity.

I understand where you are my friend. Hang in there. I am praying that you will be rewarded as well!

I suppose it would be a relative. We just have to try or aim to be less replaceable than the next guy.

You’re hired to benefit the organization and you should do that. If you can help others learn skills, you should. At the same time the company should show loyalty. It’s in the company’s best interests and yours.

The way to become “irreplaceable” at work in terms of being the last to go is not to horde information or responsibilities. It is to be a top and consistent producer, to be smart, savvy and adaptable. It sounds mean, but it’s a little like the story about the two friends getting chased by a bear. The one friend starts putting on running shoes and the other says are you stupid you won’t be able to out run the bear with or without running shoes. The friend says “yes, but I only have to be able to out run you”.