Arar Han is the co-founder of Sabot Family Companies, a holding company with ventures in real estate, technology, and consumer brands.
When my father dropped me off at college, one of the first pieces of advice he gave me was: Become friends with your professors. When I got my first job, he was similarly terse: Try to become indispensable. This is a lesson I’d encourage all new college graduates starting their careers to consider.
Thinking back, these stand up well over time. I think about this career advice often when entry-level people join our team. Many observations have already been made about this generation of workers, such as how mental health is a top priority for Gen Z or that they’re often collaborative and value authenticity and flexibility. Others have shared criticisms. For example, Jodie Foster humorously bemoaned young Gen Z actors in an interview with The Guardian.
Each previous generation seems to find the next one to be somewhat disappointing. I don’t have much to offer in the way of generational truths, which I think are best described while looking in the rear-view mirror. But I do observe that the workers of today seem to have grown up like they’re on The Truman Show, the comedic drama from 1998. I imagine growing up with the internet and social media must forge a high level of self-consciousness. I am sympathetic to those who feel perpetually in the limelight. It must be exhausting to feel observed all the time.
So, when entry-level people show up to work for one of our companies, I anticipate a high sensitivity to and concern for how their choices and behavior might be perceived by their peers or through the lens of a smartphone.
In any case, I’ve found most new workers don’t come into the workplace naturally oriented toward being “indispensable.” That’s because “indispensable” implies that you’re not the central hero—something else is. And to be indispensable, that “something”—whether it’s your boss, the company or its mission—has to feel it can’t progress without you. You’re becoming an essential part of a broader whole.
I always hope our entry-level workers become indispensable to their colleagues, their managers and to what it is the team is trying to accomplish together. Being needed in the workplace is a vital rush. It gives purpose and meaning to why you were asked to join a team in the first place. And as I see it, no team can be the best version of itself without everyone being indispensable together—to one another, to clients and to all those their organization serves.
So, how do you become indispensable?
First, you show up and on time. It’s hard to imagine anyone essential not being there when needed. Be there and be ready every time you go into the workplace (or log on if you’re in a virtual role).
Second, do your best to fulfill the things you are entrusted with. Are you at a call center? Then this means picking up promptly and delivering the service the customer is asking for. Are you in an outside sales role? Then this means following up on your leads enthusiastically and with a dedication that defies all the “noes” that inevitably come with the job. In other words, strive to be really good at what you do.
Third, look for ways to do a little more to help your team get better or go faster. Maybe you are a writer for a publication, and you happen to catch an error in someone else’s work. Do you say something, or do you let it slide since it’s not yours? It’s up to you, but I believe the indispensable sort tries to make their environment better in the small ways that count. I think of it kind of like how folks who pick up other people’s trash at the park or run after someone who leaves behind their hat make the world a bit better.
A wonderful thing can happen as this cycle repeats: People start anticipating that you’ll be there, that you do a job well and that you’re helpful. You become essential to them. You become an indispensable part of the team.
Then, throughout your career journey, you’ll have the know-how to be a winner at your next stop and the one after. When you become the boss of your dreams, you’ll have the opportunity to impart this same message to those just starting out.
Find what you believe in to reach your max potential.
You don’t want to be indispensable to just anything, though. If you’re going to work hard and try to make a difference, do it for something you believe in or that plays to your natural strengths.
For example, do you have a heart for people’s well-being? Look for roles that would provide help for others, whether because the company exists for that reason or because your role directly interfaces with people. Are you good with numbers? Consider seeking out roles that provide ample opportunity to engage with math. You might be surprised at the range: Statisticians, accountants and math teachers work with numbers, but so do sales managers, nutritionists and digital marketers.
One more thing: Lots of people say that when you’re just starting out, any job will do. I disagree. While you’re learning new skills and becoming part of a team, it helps to do it as part of a team that has positive energy and values hard work. Otherwise, you might find that you start absorbing the negative energy and bad habits of the place or become cynical about work. Neither will set you up well to perform to your highest potential.
So, for new college graduates, go forth and join a team that needs you to be indispensable. Congratulations on your many achievements so far and for all the ones to come.
And for current leaders, remember that this cycle of being indispensable begins with you. Value your entry-level workers as real contributors, and set the expectation that their contributions are just as meaningful as those of more experienced workers. When you do so, this virtuous cycle can begin.
Forbes Business Council is the foremost growth and networking organization for business owners and leaders. Do I qualify?
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