WHY YOU NEED TO BECOME REPLACEABLE
Shara Hight, Regional District Director
Early in my career, I had a leader who was lovingly referred to as “Mama Jackie”. One day, she sat me down and said, “I’ll show and teach you everything I do, but you have to promise you won’t do my job for me”. Hungry to learn, I nodded my head and agreed. Over the next 6 months, I learned something new every day. I was a 3rd key supervisor, with all the procedural knowledge on how to run a store if I needed to.
We had several assistants come in and out of their roles over that time – many of them not knowing half as much as I did. I impatiently asked Mama Jackie, “Why am I not being given the assistant manager position? I can do everything a store manager does. I can certainly do the job.” She sat me down and replied, “Do you remember what I told you? I’ll show you everything, but you have to promise not to do my job for me.” Remembering that conversation very distinctly, I nodded yes. She continued, “Do you know why I told you that?” I truthfully replied, “No. I just thought you didn’t want me to try to take your job.” She smiled and shook her head. In her sweetest southern accent, she stated, “Honey, I told you that because you’re never going to get anywhere by doing someone else’s job. You have to do your job, be the very best, and make yourself replaceable.”
“Replaceable?” I asked. “Yes sweetie, replaceable.”
There was an important lesson I had missed over those first six months in leadership. I was so eager to learn how to do someone else’s job, and focused too much on what everyone else wasn’t doing. In doing that, I wasn’t dedicated to being my personal best. Additionally, I wasn’t teaching someone else to fill my shoes or help them be better in their role. While that wasn’t the end of my fair share of mistakes, it was the beginning of a personal commitment: Be the best. No matter what you do. In order to get the next position, master your current one.
Part of what I love about Goodwill of Central and Northern Arizona isn’t just the entrepreneurial spirit of running our business. It’s also the ability to fulfill your personal potential in a role that gets you excited to come to work every day. I was recently at the 67th Avenue Career Center and I noticed a Roger Williams quote on the wall that took me back to the conversation I had with Mama Jackie. The quote reads, “The greatest crime in the world is not developing to your potential. When you do what you do best, you are helping not only yourself, but the world”. After a moment of reflection, I realized my experience probably wasn’t unique. Many people could relate and learn from it – hopefully sooner than I did. In order to make yourself replaceable, you must reach your potential in your current position.
• Surround yourself with people who inspire you. The people in your circle will make or break you. They will either help you form your excuse, or help you form the solution. The key word is “people”, not person. You need a circle of mentors, peers, and friends. You need people who challenge you, call you out, and hold you accountable to your goals. The people who don’t fit that criteria can still play a role in your life, but they shouldn’t eat at your table.
• Feedback is essential to the process. Ask, seek, and take the feedback -you’re going to need it. You’re going to make a few mistakes and that’s okay; don’t be sorry, be better. Always say thank you for the feedback. It’s 10% of what is said and 90% of how to act on it.
• Finally, be replaceable. Look around at who your definition of success is. Pick their brain, and adapt their behaviors to your situation. When you see results, share them with everyone! Start small, and if you can do something faster than average, teach someone else your style. When that next promotion or opportunity presents itself, you want your team to carry on without you – clapping for your success!
Whether you’re currently an individual contributor, or a leader who wants to get promoted, develop your potential first. Surround yourself with people who inspire you, take the feedback, and teach others to eventually replace you. If you reach that point, it means that person was able to grow to their potential – and you had a hand in that.
