So, I recently wrote about expense reductions….which leads to the next question. How do you make sure you’re one of the people who stay? In my career, I’ve found there are 3 categories of people you never get rid of…
- The leader: this is the person who has a tremendous amount of credibility in the organization…not just with senior management, but with every level. Often, they have been at the firm a long time and are viewed as “culture carriers”. They do their job well, but more importantly, they are viewed as trustworthy. They often lead initiatives, they are asked to MC events, they are picked to participate in panels. They are honest, accessible, fair, and consistent. Whie they are inclusive, they are also realistic….they are the ones you go to for advice. They might not speak much, but when they do, people listen.
- The SME: this is the person who knows everything and anything about their particular domain. I’d describe these folks as “inch wide, mile deep”. They are indispensable when you’re about to change processes or systems…they know how everything is connected and what to worry about. They are the sherpas in the organization: they will get you up the mountain and back safely. Sometimes SMEs can hoard their knowledge…the SMEs who share are the ones who stay.
- The Executor: this is the person who can execute and hit the objective, whatever you throw at them. Great problem solvers, good listeners, excellent at leading teams. They’re usualy NOT SMEs, but they’re good at understanding how all the pieces fit. They have a track record of successful projects,,,and they’re usually pretty modest about their success. When they have problems, they figure out how to get back on track fast.
These three archetypes are the last ones to go…mainly because their value to the firm is almost impossible to replace. If you’re not one of these yet, think about which one fits you best. And once you’ve picked the one you think you are….don’t stop. Keep building. You’re likely to be someone who gets to choose the path of your career instead of someone else choosing for you.