Indispensable! Becoming the Obvious Choice in Business and in Life
Section One. Square One 1
1. Escaping the Status Quo 3
2. Reality Check 11
3. Establishing Your Path 21
Section Two. Look Like You Mean Business 29
4. Refl ecting What You Want Others to See 31
5. Everything Counts 39
6. Unclutter, Unravel, and Transform 51
Section Three. Connect, Connect, Connect 63
7. Shh . . . Listen 65
8. Speech Matters 71
9. Write Can Be Wrong 87
Section Four. Business Rules 95
10. Humor Is Not Always Funny 97
11. Business Is Business 105
Section Five. That Was Then; This Is Now 119
12. EAT More 121
13. Your Move 127
14. Back to the Future 131
Notes 135
Acknowledgments 137
Three ways to bring Indispensable! into your organization 139
Recommended Resources for Additional Study 140
FACT: When opportunity knocks in the workplace, most people don't know how to seize it.
This book will show you exactly how to spot--and master--your next great job opportunity.
Are you ready to become the OBVIOUS CHOICE at promotion time?
You can be. The good news? It's a lot easier than you think.
Believe it or not, you already have the tools. Indispensable! teaches you how to use them to position yourself for job success, every time. From international bestselling author and leadership expert David Cottrell and sales guru Robert Nix comes the ultimate insider's guide for those who want to break through and control their professional destiny. In simple, clear language--featuring informative and relatable case studies--you'll discover how easy it can be to transform your on-the-job persona to become the person who succeeds first and fastest. No matter what your title is, you'll be equipped to navigate the trickiest workplaces and position yourself for growth at every turn. You'll put yourself in the spotlight and become the individual everyone else admires and wants to be.
Indispensable! demonstrates how to create and maintain your best image 24/7: how to project strength, smarts, competence, and leadership. It's an indispensable road map with superb strategies for how to:
Assess your workplace persona and perceptionFormulate a goal-oriented action plan that worksIncorporate behavior modification to transform yourself inside and outside of workIdentify, set, and sustain measurable goalsOptimize your organizational skills (while decluttering your life)Indispensable! is packed with tips on how to listen, how to put coworkers at ease, how to use humor to your advantage (and when to avoid it), how to participate at business functions, and how to cultivate a public persona and effortless demeanor that attracts others.
PRAISE FOR INDISPENSABLE!
"Indispensable! A powerful guide for all who want to become indispensable within their organization." -- Marshall Goldsmith, author of What Got You Here Won't Get You There
"Indispensable! is a little book full of big ideas that can be understood and applied by anyone—anyone, that is, who really wants to increase their value, their respectability, and the likelihood they will be promoted. Read this book and take the first step above average to Indispensable!” -- Ken Blanchard, coauthor of The One Minute Manager® and Trust Works!
"An indispensable part of your business library. The wise guidance outlined within Indispensable! is a great road map for anyone looking to move up in any organization." -- Lorraine Grubbs, former Director of Employment, Southwest Airlines, and author of Lessons in Loyalty
"Cottrell and Nix's easy-to-follow insight and action plans for quickly becoming indispensable to your organization, coupled with your own intuition--often considered the sum total of your life experiences--will undoubtedly prepare you for the success and boundless opportunities that your career has in store." -- Kip Tindell, Chairman and CEO, The Container Store, listed on Fortune's top 100 places to work for 14 years in a row
"A great primer for those reexamining their occupation or those just beginning their career. TalentPlus agrees with the authors: 'It is your responsibility to understand your talents, values, and desires and then develop the courage to move forward.'" -- Kimberly Rath, President, Talent Plus, recognized as an Achievers 50 Most Engaged Workplace