Everyone Is Replaceable (Even Tucker Carlson and Don Lemon)
John Neral
I Help Mid-Career Professionals Find a Job They Love or Love the Job They Have // Executive & Career Transition Coach // Host - The Mid-Career GPS Podcast
Last week, we learned that Tucker Carlson and Don Lemon are no longer with their employers. It was a shock to many who believed that these stalwarts would never vacate their positions.
As we follow the news, I want to offer that we will never know all the details and terms of their exits. But given what we’ve read and heard, it makes sense as to why they are no longer employed there.
And as I’ve reflected on their situations, it reminds me how we are all replaceable.
Sure, someone will fill their seats and time slots.
And yes, they will go on and find employment elsewhere.
But their networks decided to replace them.
It’s a reminder that we are all replaceable, no matter how valuable or important we think we are. Someone else can step in and do our job.
Our brand loyalty is a perfect example of how we stay fully committed to them until something happens repeatedly that gives us the cause, reason, or concern to try a different brand.
Have you ever visited a restaurant because the food and service were stellar, only to find out that something changed, and you eventually fell out of favor with them? And you find a new restaurant to frequent.
Based on reports, I want to acknowledge that Tucker Carlson and Don Lemon said and reportedly did some egregious things that led to their dismissals. Regarding performance, we aren’t replaced without warning. There are usually multiple conversations before resulting in an exit.
But our egos can shadow our perception of how valuable we are.
And we all know people who had said something like this when they learned they were being let go:
· “They can’t afford to fire me! I’m too valuable to this organization.”
· “This company needs me.”
· “They will be lost without me.”
· “Just watch. They won’t survive when I’m gone.”
There is a difference between being replaceable and being valuable.
When we are replaceable, the company has to have someone else do your job because they don’t want to deal with your drama anymore. Your drama may be a result of your poor performance, behavior, or both. Your being there is causing too much of a disturbance that you should leave.
Being valuable means that the company recognizes you are a great fit in your role, and there is added benefit by your serving in that role. Additionally, you are producing results they are not willing to lose by you being in a different position.
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Early in my career, one of my supervisors taught me an important lesson in humility. He told me that I could be replaced. While he celebrated my work and the results I was getting, he cautioned me to level set and not get “too big of a head.” It was hard feedback to hear as a younger employee who wanted to do great work, but it was the right lesson I needed.
Being humble is a desired value, but it doesn’t mean undercutting or devaluing who you are and what you do. You deserve to be treated fairly, compensated accordingly, and given opportunities to advance.
After all, it’s about how we SHOW UP.
And how we SHOW UP matters.
P.S. - I took some time to record a solo episode on The Mid-Career GPS Podcast to talk more in-depth about why we are all replaceable. In this episode, I share some career thought derailers for you and why the sooner we realize we are all replaceable, the better our mid-career journeys will be.
Episode 155: Everyone Is Replaceable (Even Tucker Carlson and Don Lemon)
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#ICYMI – Here are some similar episodes of The Mid-Career GPS Podcast that are relevant to this week’s topic.
Ep. 147 – Stop Trying to Convince People You’re Great
Ep. 139 – Resentment and Your Performance Appraisal
Ep. 132 – Leaving Your Job with Gratitude
Ep. 106 – Overcoming Fear in Your Job Search
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If you are looking to find a job you love or love the job you have, I can help you. I’ve created a free career guide called “5 Mistakes Mid-Career Professionals Make (And Need to Stop Doing).”
My guide will help you build your roadmap or GPS, to help you chart that course to whatever is next for you and your career.
Fordham University | More to Share, More to Gain
1yExcellent episode, your own humility and sensible style and reflection shine through - thank you, John Neral 😊