HBR Guide to Your Professional Growth

CHAPTER 7

Making Yourself Indispensable

by John H. Zenger, Joseph R. Folkman, and Scott Edinger

IDEA IN BRIEF

Good leaders can become exceptional by developing just a few of their strengths to the highest level—but not by merely doing more of the same. Instead, they need to engage in the business equivalent of cross-training—that is, to enhance complementary skills that will enable them to make fuller use of their strengths. For example, technical skills can become more effective when communication skills improve, making a leader’s expertise more apparent and more accessible. Once a few of their strengths have reached the level of outstanding, leaders become indispensable to their organizations despite the weaknesses they may have.

A manager ...