The Hidden Dangers of Being Too Good at Your Job
Readtime: 4 minutes
You’re the go-to.
The fixer.
The safe pair of hands.
The one everyone turns to when it matters.
But what if the very thing that makes you valuable… is the thing that’s holding you back?
Today I want to talk about something I see all the time in mid- and late-career professionals:
Being too good at your job can quietly stall your career.
Here’s why, and how to break free.
The Indispensable Trap
The better you are at your current role, the harder it becomes for others to imagine you doing something else.
You become so relied upon, so essential, that people can’t picture you anywhere but where you are.
It’s called the Indispensable Trap.
And it sounds flattering – until you realise what it costs:
✅ No growth
✅ No new challenges
✅ No promotions
People keep you exactly where you are… because they can’t afford to let you go.
Here’s how you know you might be stuck:
– You’re always the first call when something goes wrong.
– You’ve mastered everything in your role, but you’re not learning anything new.
– You’re recognised, but not rewarded with new opportunities.
Sound familiar?
Let’s talk about why this matters.
Why It’s Dangerous
The Indispensable Trap doesn’t just keep you busy.
It keeps you invisible.
When you’re too deep in your current role, senior leaders stop thinking about you for the next one.
You stop getting stretch assignments.
You stop building new skills.
You stop showing up in conversations about bigger opportunities.
And the longer you stay indispensable in one place, the harder it becomes to make a move.
I’ve seen this play out so many times. Talented people who spend years excelling in their role… only to realise they’ve been quietly overlooked for promotion because no one’s been prepared (or willing) to replace them.
But the good news?
You can break free.
And it starts by changing how you work, so you’re no longer the only one who can do it.
How to Break Free
Here’s how to escape the Indispensable Trap and unlock your next opportunity:
1. Teach Others
Don’t hoard knowledge. Share it.
Train others to step up. Build capability around you.
The more you empower others to succeed, the more freedom you create for yourself.
2. Delegate and Document
If everything runs through you, nothing runs without you.
Document your processes. Create systems. Show others how it’s done.
When people can succeed without you – that’s when you’re free to move up.
3. Speak Up
Don’t assume people know where you want to go next.
Be clear about your ambitions.
Tell your leaders: “I’m ready for more. Here’s where I want to go next.”
If you don’t tell them, they’ll assume you’re happy right where you are.
4. Say No (Strategically)
Stop saying yes to every crisis, every last-minute fix, every task that keeps you boxed into the same role.
Start saying yes to work that expands your skills and visibility.
Not every opportunity moves you forward. Learn which ones do.
5. Learn Beyond Your Lane
Look beyond your current job.
Volunteer for projects outside your team. Shadow senior leaders. Build relationships across functions.
The more people see you operating beyond your role, the more they’ll imagine you in bigger ones.
In Summary
Being great at your job should open doors – not close them.
But if you’re too valuable where you are, no one will want to let you go.
Here’s how to break free:
Teach others
Delegate and document
Speak up
Say no strategically
Learn beyond your lane
Because the best way to move up?
Is to make it possible for others to take your place.
On a Personal Note
I saw this firsthand during my time at KPMG.
I spent a year longer than I wanted to as a Senior Manager because I had no one to replace me on one of our biggest clients. I was indispensable.
Once I’d trained somebody else up and delegated much of what I was doing, I moved up into a Director role.
When I noticed this, I saw this pattern time and time again. The people moving up were the ones who had made themselves replaceable – which meant they could then step into bigger roles.
One Quote to Get You Going
“The best leaders don’t create followers, they create more leaders.”
That’s all for today.
See you in a couple of weeks,
Mostyn
P.S. Would you like to start earning more and do work you actually care about?
I’m putting together the next cohort of Atomic Ambition – my live programme that helps people in the second half of their careers make big decisions about what’s next for them.
The participants from Cohort 1 described it as ‘life-changing’.
If you’ve been wondering lately “Is this really it?”
– feeling like you’ve worked hard but still aren’t earning what you’re worth
– or craving more time and freedom from your work
– or looking for more meaning or fulfilment in what you’re doing
…then this is for you and I’d love your input.
👉 Take this short survey to help me shape the programme (and you’ll get first access when the new cohort launches).
Curious about my corporate workshops on high performance for professionals and leaders?
Watch the 3-minute showreel here.