In his book Linchpin: Are you indispensable? Author Seth Godin postures that nothing is more devastating to employees and people than simply doing your job.
He reasons that because society has become more or less commoditized across the workplace, it is more important than ever to differentiate yourself from interchangeable labor so you can avoid chronic dissatisfaction and insecurity. To the contrary, he argues that the only way to fulfill your greatest potential and become something indispensable is to become something elemental, binding and very difficult to quantify; you must be the Linchpin.
Godin recognizes five core competencies of linchpins that each of us can master for total fulfillment:
1) Be relational. Linchpins humanize their environments and they excel at making connections. “The communication of enthusiasm and connection and leadership starts with the gift you give, not with the manipulation you attempt.”
2) Be generous. Linchpins do not require reciprocity. “Becoming a linchpin is not an act of selfishness; it gives you a platform for expending emotional labor and giving gifts”.
3) Be artistic. Linchpins inject unique elements into their work; they thrive on abstraction. “ Innovative solutions to new problems don’t get old.”
4) Be perceptive. Linchpins are masters of practicality and possess incorrigibly positive attitudes. “The linchpin has figured out that we get only a certain number of brain cycles to spend each day. Spending even one on a situation out of our control has a significant opportunity cost.”
5) Be self-starting. Linchpins are ambitious and will take responsibility without direction. “Bloom where you are planted. Start now where you are and have passion.”
The value a linchpin brings to the organization is twofold. First, the linchpin provides both emotional labor and outlines maps moving the organization forward. Secondly, as markets saturate with interchangeable and commoditized products or services, your prospects and customers are now buying more than those things, they are buying the relationships, stories, and art that only your linchpins can provide you.[/fusion_text][one_third last=”no” spacing=”yes” center_content=”no” hide_on_mobile=”no” background_color=”” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” background_position=”left top” border_position=”all” border_size=”0px” border_color=”” border_style=”” padding=”” margin_top=”” margin_bottom=”” animation_type=”” animation_direction=”” animation_speed=”0.1″ class=”” id=””][imageframe lightbox=”no” lightbox_image=”” style_type=”dropshadow” hover_type=”none” bordercolor=”” bordersize=”0px” borderradius=”0″ stylecolor=”” align=”center” link=”” linktarget=”_self” animation_type=”0″ animation_direction=”down” animation_speed=”0.1″ hide_on_mobile=”no” class=”” id=””] 
[/imageframe][/one_third][two_third last=”yes” spacing=”yes” center_content=”no” hide_on_mobile=”no” background_color=”” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” background_position=”left top” border_position=”all” border_size=”0px” border_color=”” border_style=”” padding=”” margin_top=”” margin_bottom=”” animation_type=”” animation_direction=”” animation_speed=”0.1″ class=”” id=””][fusion_text]Brett Merle has been part of the ACQ team for more than two years and contributes daily doses of enthusiasm for sales with his can-do attitude. In his free time he enjoys blogging, music, and traveling when able! Check back here for more contributions on topics such as Sales Training, Careers, etc.[/fusion_text][/two_third][/fullwidth]
