One of my first managers frequently reminded us no one is irreplaceable. He would use the illustration of placing your hands in a bucket and then pulling them out.

The level of the water doesn't change much when one or two hands are removed.

While I agree with him that we can all be replaced, I was never sure it was a healthy demonstration for building team morale.

And I think there are ways a person can make themselves more valuable to a team.

Perhaps, even invaluable.

Here are seven ways to make yourself invaluable to a team:

1. Be a chief encourager. Be one who helps people feel better about themselves and their contribution to the team. Become a cheerleader who offers a positive mindset and is willing to do whatever it takes to build up others and the team.

Encouragers seem rarer these days.

2. Support the vision and direction. Be honest about it, but be a verbal proponent of the overall objectives of the team and where things are going. Learn the value of being a team player. Have more good to say about the place than you have bad.

Everything might not be wonderful—in fact, many things may need changing—but if you can't love the people with whom you work, you'll have a hard time being seen as valuable by others.

3. Respect others. Be respectful in the way you treat and respond to everyone on the team. Recognize everyone is not like you. People like different things. They respond differently than you would respond. Other people's opinions and viewpoints matter.

Respect is another missing element in many work (and life) relationships these days.

4. Give more than required. This doesn't mean you have to work more hours. It might. But it might mean you work smarter than everyone else.

Plan your day better. Become an expert at setting goals and objectives. Learn ways to hold yourself accountable.

5. Be an information hub. Read, observe and learn. Then humbly share what you learn.

Information is king. Be a king of it. Without being obnoxious—of course.

6. Celebrate other people's success. Send notes or encouragement. Brag on someone else. Tell others what you admire about them. Without being creepy, of course.
7. Be a good listener. Everyone loves the person they can go to and know they won't just be heard, but they will be listened to. A good person to bounce ideas off is invaluable to the team.

What other ways do you know of to make oneself valuable to a team?

Ron Edmondson is a pastor and church leader passionate about planting churches, helping established churches thrive and assisting pastors and those in ministry think through leadership, strategy and life. Ron has over 20 years' business experience, mostly as a self-employed business owner, and he's been helping churches grow vocationally for over 10 years.

For the original article, visit ronedmondson.com.

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