Who is the Linchpin?

The COVID-19 crisis has fundamentally changed the way society and businesses are run. Restaurants and social gatherings are shut down, furloughs are happening left and right, and anyone who can work at home is working at home. We are being fed the narrative that this is all temporary, but it would be naive to think that this crisis won’t change the world in some lasting and impactful ways. A great divide is coming and it is time to ask yourself, are you a linchpin?

By linchpin, I mean the person that is holding it all together. Are you at the core of why your business is thriving, or do you maybe depend on the creations of someone else in order to do what you do? A linchpin is someone who puts the rubber to the road and actually gets things done. A doctor treating a COVID-19 patient is a linchpin. A farm worker getting produce into our grocery stories is a linchpin…these are the people that are actually making things happen. There are a lot of people out there who consider themselves to be absolutely critical to the business operation that they are a part of, but in reality, their role and contributions are completely dependent on the actions of someone else. They are not linchpins. 

I have spoken before about changing what you are doing today so that robots can’t do it tomorrow, my thesis being that processes that people handle today will likely be taken over by automation in the near future. It is important to be honest with yourself about your skills and your future in the face of significant technological advancements. Similarly, it is important for everyone experiencing this crisis to know how crucial they may or may not be. The concept of “essential services” is forcing a lot of realization and self-reflection. Humans cannot survive without the farm workers who harvest and deliver our food. Without medical professionals the death toll would be even higher than it is right now. These people are critical. Are you?

I have seen a lot of people think that they are crucial when they are not, and I have seen a lot of people take credit for things they did not accomplish. Right now, we don’t have time for egos. You need to know your place on the bus. Are you riding, or are you driving?

Keep in mind that being a rider isn’t necessarily a bad thing. It can be the safer, more advantageous position to be in, as many individuals working from home will soon come to realize, but it is advantageous to know your seat on the bus. Can you handle being a linchpin or are you better off facing the reality that you are not crucial?

We have all been heading towards conclusions like this at 15mph, but this crisis just sped us up to 30mph. Ask yourself these tough questions now, and you will be more mentally prepared for living and working in a post-COVID world.