Regardless of an individual’s job standing, knowing how to be an essential employee is crucial. Whether an employer is contemplating either promotions or downsizing, it’s important for an employee to portray as many positive qualities as possible. But what are some common characteristics, traits, and practices that an employer may look for? How can someone “stand out from the crowd” at work? And what does it really mean to be indispensable in the workplace?

Have a positive attitude

Despite the infinite number of articles, blogs, and interviews covering this topic, just about all of them will state that a positive attitude is critical to success in the workplace. Tim McConnell, senior HR strategist for McConnell HRC Inc., believes that a positive attitude is a common trait of great employees. “Somebody that always has a smile on their face, never says no, and has a can-do attitude is very important…This type of person will accommodate when changes in a project occur. This is opposed to people who would give 10 reasons why they can’t do something.” Monica Beauregard, president of Bridgepoint Inc., also sees the importance of an optimistic outlook. “Energy and a sincere positive attitude really stick out for me.” These are the people that leave a lasting mark on their employers because their energy flows infectiously to their co-workers.

Be knowledgeable

A positive attitude is great, but it isn’t really useful if you either do not possess, or are unwilling to learn the necessary skills to excel in a position. A key phrase that repeatedly gets mentioned is an organization’s “go-to” person. This person can simply get the job done and has the complete confidence of their boss. According to McConnell, when you put this type of person on a project, there is a confidence that the job will be completed properly and efficiently. “They are organized and they’ve got methodologies in place so they know how to do things and exactly what has to be done,” he says. “Basically, a great employee has to be extremely knowledgeable in their field and effectively get things done.”

Show great team skills

Beyond the need for knowledge, an employee also has to possess the ability to be a part of the organizational dynamic. In other words, you have to fit in. Michael Howard, a professional resume writer, believes this to be true. “Beyond pure productivity, an indispensable employee is someone who can fit in and excel within the work environment and the team. A certain individual may be a great fundraiser, but if they are deemed to be high maintenance, it won’t be long before the employer chooses to find someone else who can produce the same results.” People, at some level, have to be able to fit in, even if most of your work is on your own. There is always that almost organic operational structure and workplace culture that forces an employee to be a part of it. From Howard’s perspective, “Your personalities and work styles have to find some sort of compromise so that the overall team is effective.”

Demonstrate a willingness to grow and develop

The ability to show that you have the potential to grow as an employee begins during the interview process. Once an employer reviews your resume, they are already looking to see your past experiences. What relevant skills does this person bring to the organization? Have they moved up in past jobs? When they moved from one job to the next were they learning new skills or are they doing the same job over and over? McConnell weighs in on this point. “You hear somebody say that they have 10 years experience, but they’ve been a coordinator and manager for 10 years in the same job. We don’t interpret that as 10 years of progressively responsible work experience where they’ve been learning, growing, and developing. They basically have one year’s experience, repeated 10 times over.” However, McConnell does believe that you can grow if you are in the same job, providing there are opportunities to do different things.

Understanding your workplace

These are all interesting points, but they’re all completely irrelevant if you do not understand what is important to your employer. Going that extra mile is pointless unless you understand what the organization perceives as essential. If you work an extra two hours a day, you may see that as showing the organization your dedication, whereas they may see it as an inability work efficiently.

Howard sees an indispensable employee, at minimum, as “someone who brings more value to their employer than they themselves cost…If their overall compensation package costs the business more than whatever benefit they bring to the organization, they will likely be looking for another job very soon.” For Beauregard, being indispensable means that “you can be relied upon to do your job, and are insightful [enough] to think proactively. You are flexible to respond to things outside the scope of your role and can be trusted by the people you work with.”

McConnell closes by giving his own account of a vital employee in his organization. “She was indispensable, and it wasn’t because she was smarter or worked harder than anybody else. She just had the right attitude. Whenever a new project came along, people would just give the project directly to her. It came to the point where they were giving her work over people that were working in their own department simply because it would get done with minimum hassle.”

Karl Noseworthy is a freelance writer from Newfoundland who currently resides in Kitchener, Ontario. He can be reached at karlnoseworthy@hotmail.com.