Being indispensable isn't always a compliment.

There's a compliment I've always thought corporate women should be a little suspicious of.

"I don't know what we'd do without you."

Sounds wonderful, doesn't it?

You're the go-to person. The one who delivers. The one everyone counts on when something important needs to get done.

But here's what I want you to consider.

Are they counting on you to keep doing what you're doing, or are they imagining you doing something bigger?

Because those are two very different conversations.

I've seen incredibly talented women become so valuable in their current roles that everyone knows what they contribute today, but very few people are talking about what they could contribute at the next level.

Meanwhile, someone else is being discussed as a future leader.

Here's the unspoken rule:

Being excellent at your current job doesn't automatically make people see you as ready for the next one.

You need to help decision-makers connect the dots between the value you deliver today and the leadership you're capable of tomorrow.

Your career move this week

Ask yourself one question:

If I left my current role tomorrow, what would my leadership team say I'm capable of doing next?

If you're not sure they'd have an answer, that's your opportunity to start changing the conversation.