Bruce Tulgan: The Secret To Becoming Indispensable At Work

The COVID-19 pandemic has upended our work lives. It’s forced many of us to work from home, away from our bosses, and has us worrying about the long-term security of the jobs we hold. And all these sudden changes have us asking ourselves, “How do I make sure I’m seen as indispensable at work?”

For decades, Bruce Tulgan has been studying “go-to” people, those workers who are most consistently valued highly by their colleagues and bosses. And he’s just published his twenty-first book, “The Art of Being Indispensable at Work: Win Influence, Beat Over-commitment and Get the Right Things Done.”

Regardless of what position or role someone holds in an organization, this is a book that shows how indispensable, “go-to” people think and behave – and how they build up their uncommon influence with others. 

With new technology, constant change, uncertainty – and far-flung virtual teams – getting things done at work is tougher and more complex than ever. We’re also in the midst of a collaboration revolution, working across silos and platforms with everyone, all the time. On top of that, it often feels like we’re stuck in a no-win cycle—dealing with an overwhelming influx of asks, with unclear lines of communication and authority.

And so, this episode is especially focused on sharing ways individual managers can ensure they’re personally seen as being indispensable – and how they can build an entire team of indispensable employees.

Bruce is the expert on the subject. He’s the best-selling author of It’s Okay to Be the Boss” and “Not Everyone Gets A Trophy,” and he’s spent over twenty-five years conducting intensive interviews with workers across America for the purpose of identifying generational and workplace trends. Through his research, he’s discovered that go-to people think and behave differently, They build up their influence with others not by trying to do everything for everybody, but by doing the right things at the right times for the right reasons, regardless of whether they have the formal authority.

There’s far more to becoming the go-to person at work than by always saying ‘yes,’ or by being a subject matter expert.  Listen in as we introduce the most effective ways of making yourself truly prized by everyone with whom you work.

By Mark C. Crowley

Mark C. Crowley is the author of Lead From The Heart: Transformational Leadership For The 21st Century which has been taught in 11 American universities. He is a global speaker, leadership consultant and thought leader on the topics of workplace culture and employee engagement.