At Work, is it Possible to Become too Valuable?

Question:
I am a valued employee at work. In a recent review, my boss sang my praises. But when I brought up the issue of a promotion, he hesitated, almost as if he was afraid of me leaving my current role. Is it possible to become too valuable?

Answer:
It is a cruel irony of the working world, but sometimes, becoming essential in your job can get you essentially stuck! The more you tie your value to your potential (and not just your ability to complete current tasks), the more valuable you are to your company.

The inverse, unfortunately, is also true. The more your tie your value to your specific job, the less upward value you have to the company. Think about fast-track employees. In very large companies, these fast trackers literally bounce through a series of jobs as they get "rounded out."

It is sometimes all too easy to cling to the praise of others who feel the job could "simply not get done without you." Unfortunately, your superiors will often use this same excuse when passing you over for a promotion or reassignment.

Success requires delegating and developing others as much as it does doing things yourself.