Where Do You Really Stand?

Your Position Map reveals everything

Hello Irreplaceable Professional,

Thank you for the incredible response to our first issue! Many of you replied with thoughtful questions about getting started with the PIVOT framework. The most common question? "How do I actually create the Position Map you mentioned?"

Today, we're diving deep into the "P" in PIVOT—and I'm sharing a comprehensive worksheet that will change how you see your career positioning.

Why Most Professionals Get Position Mapping Wrong

Last week, I spoke with Sarah, a senior business analyst at a retail company. When asked about her position relative to AI, she said: "AI can do most of what I do — write user stories, write test cases, create reports, analyze data, even write recommendations."

But after walking her through a proper Position Map exercise, Sarah discovered something surprising. While AI could handle her routine reporting, her real value lay elsewhere. She was the person who could translate complex stakeholder requirements across three different business units, had relationships with key stakeholders built over seven years, and possessed institutional memory about why certain processes existed.

Sarah's mistake (and the mistake most professionals make) is focusing only on tasks, not on their strategic position.

The Three Dimensions of Strategic Position Mapping

A real Position Map goes beyond "Can AI do my job?" It examines three critical dimensions:

1. Current Role vs. AI Capabilities

Yes, you need to honestly assess which tasks are at risk. But this isn't about creating panic, it's about creating clarity about what aspects of your job can be acomplished either completely or partially by AI. When you know exactly what's vulnerable, you can stop defending the indefensible and start positioning around what matters.

2. Your Unique Knowledge Assets

This is where most people discover the hidden gold. Your industry expertise, company knowledge, relationships, and institutional memory often create more value than your daily tasks. AI can analyze data, but it can't replicate your understanding of why the CFO always asks certain questions, or how a failed project from 2019 influences current decision-making.

3. Timeline Realities

Not every role faces immediate disruption. Understanding your timeline—both personal and industry-wide—lets you plan strategically rather than react frantically. Some professionals have 18 months to evolve and others have 3-4 years. Your strategy should match your timeline.

The Position Mapping Mistakes That Cost Careers

Mistake #1 - Being too pessimistic about AI replacement. Many professionals underestimate their contextual knowledge and relationship value. They see AI demos and assume they're obsolete, when they're actually uniquely positioned to work alongside AI.

Mistake #2 - Undervaluing domain expertise. "Anyone can learn what I know" is rarely true. Your combination of industry knowledge, company culture understanding, and stakeholder relationships takes years to develop and is nearly impossible for AI to replicate.

Mistake #3 - Thinking in tasks instead of outcomes. Tasks get automated. Outcomes require human judgment, strategy, and relationship management. The professionals who thrive will be those who shift from "I create reports" to "I enable better decision-making."

Your Strategic Position Assessment

Here's what a proper Position Map reveals:

• Where you're truly vulnerable (and where you're not)

• Your hidden competitive advantages

• Strategic positioning opportunities

• Timeline for necessary changes

• Immediate next steps

Most importantly, it shifts your thinking from defensive ("How do I protect my current job?") to strategic ("How do I position myself for maximum value?").

Real Position Mapping in Action

Consider Mohan, a business analyst who completed this exercise:

Initial assessment: "AI will replace my sales forecasting and inventory analysis."

After Position Mapping, Mohan realized the real value was his ability to interpret data within the context of local market conditions, supplier relationships, and seasonal patterns that weren't captured in historical data. He repositioned himself as a "Strategic Inventory Advisor" who used AI for analysis but provided uniquely human insights about market dynamics.

Result: Instead of fighting AI, Mohan became the bridge between AI capabilities and business strategy. His role evolved and his value increased.

Next Week Preview

Once you complete your Position Map, you'll be ready for the "I" in PIVOT—Impact Inventory. This is where you'll learn to articulate and quantify your organizational value in terms that matter to decision-makers.

Many professionals can't clearly explain their business impact beyond "I am a [insert role title here] with [insert number of years] years of experience." In a world where roles are being questioned, this isn't enough. Next week, you'll learn to build a compelling case for your irreplaceable value.

Your Action Step This Week

Download the comprehensive Position Map Worksheet below. Set aside 90 minutes to work through it thoughtfully—this isn't a quick assessment, it's a strategic planning exercise.

Click here to download the worksheet for free.

After completing it, you'll have clarity on:

• Your true competitive position

• Your biggest vulnerabilities and strengths

• Strategic opportunities for repositioning

• A concrete action plan for the next 90 days

Share Your Insights

Reply to this email with one surprising discovery from your Position Map exercise. What strength did you discover that you hadn't fully recognized? What vulnerability needs immediate attention?

I read every response, and insights from readers often inspire future newsletter topics.

Forward this newsletter to a colleague who's navigating similar challenges. Position mapping is more valuable when you can discuss your insights with others in similar situations.

---

Remember, The goal isn't to compete with AI—it's to understand exactly where you can create irreplaceable value and position yourself accordingly.

Your position today determines your possibilities tomorrow.

Here to help you stay irreplaceable,

Sundar Nadimpalli

P.S. If you haven't read last week's issue about the Great Analyst Transformation, you can find it below. It provides important context for this week's Position Mapping exercise.