According to Seth Godin, author of Linchpin: Are You Indispensable? “The linchpin is the individual who can walk into chaos and create order, someone who can invent, connect, create, and make things happen.” This is Seth’s version of the ideal “go-to” person, and he says that every successful company has at least one linchpin.
So who are they and what do they look like?
While the definition of an ideal employee can range widely depending on who you ask, according to ToughNickel.com, research shows us they share these top five qualities:
- They are dependable.
- They are honest and exhibit integrity.
- They have a positive, proactive attitude.
- They have a willingness to work.
- They use downtime productively.
While I wholeheartedly agree with this list, I wouldn’t exalt myself as exceptional merely by checking the boxes in these categories. In fact, you might consider these as the minimum standards of employment.
I’d like to add a few more qualities I feel are common among what I refer to as the “Indispensable Elite.”
These people are the source of all knowledge on all aspects of the property.
They are resourceful and innovative in their approach to problem solving and service creation, capturing everything so nothing falls through the cracks. They organize their records smartly and intuitively so they access information quickly. They are considered the trusted resource and “Reliable Responders.”
They are masters of relationship-building.
They listen empathically to understand their customer. They create and nurture deep, meaningful connections with their colleagues, teammates, managers, tenants, vendors, and clients.
They consider the total cost of ownership for everything.
They “dollarize” their decisions and “monetize” their moments. By this I mean, they use rounding to their advantage so they can explain and support their recommendations on a cost per square foot or per unit basis.
These individuals are people of character.
They stand for something worth defending and have incredible moral fiber. By knowing their values and beliefs, they are able to walk their talk and leverage themselves for the greater good. They know only one gear: “high performance” when it really matters. They expand the pie to find creative solutions for everyone’s benefit, and remain accountable for their mistakes—and learn from them. They are incredibly humble and gracious. They don’t gossip—they compliment. They’re incredible listeners and respond based on what they learn. They’re interesting by being interested in others.
They communicate results early and often.
They get more of the things done that really need doing; they’re outcome-oriented. They anticipate what might happen and leave nothing to chance when they communicate. They mention their team’s contribution and achievements regularly.
These folks are exceptional time stewards.
They make the absolute best use of their time. They live by success routines and have the discipline to remain committed to them before their workday begins. They are morning people—yes, early morning people. They set and honor blocks of time for their highest value work. They set out to control the “controllables” of their day, making time for what’s most important, and investing their time in things that yield the highest return. They reflect on the time they spend and project future outcomes with clear intention within their planner.
They know their specialty and coach their teams on everything.
They give back and strengthen their teams by teaching and mentoring. They guide their teams toward desirable outcomes without giving them the answers. They empower their people by delegating authority, and they tie recognition to results.
They are lifelong learners and invest in constant training.
By hiring their own coaches, these individuals invest time and energy toward their highest value goals. They stretch themselves by reading constantly. They remain immersed in their industry and see trends coming. They make time to think and stretch their mind.
The Indispensable Elite are on a journey––a path of mastery. They know that each day requires of them but one thing—to take the next right action.
