Have you been waiting for your next task assignment? Are you somewhere between itching to get going and feeling unproductive because you’re just in limbo – waiting for cool work to come your way?
It’s time to act more like a leader in your job and to take ownership of what your days look like from now on.
Your job description was only ever a starting point, not your daily to-do list and any job is more exciting when you expand it to include new responsibilities. What could you be doing in your role that you’re good at, that adds value, and that you’d also like to focus on? And how can you include more of that kind of work?
Ask yourself:
- What ideas for improvement (processes, systems, the way things are done) have been swirling in your head and you wish someone asked you for them? → don’t wait to be asked, propose them.
- What tasks or projects are coming up and you would love to be involved but nobody suggested you should be part of them? → put yourself forward for them.
As much as we’d love managers to be mind-readers and to bring us all this exciting work to get into, they’re humans like you and they have A LOT on their plate. The best way for you to expand your role, to include new responsibilities and create opportunities is by taking the lead, putting yourself forward, and letting people know – proactively – what you want to work on and be involved in.
Nobody really tells you explicitly about the dynamics of the workplace and while I am sure that deep down you know all the stuff you’ve just read, sometimes it’s helpful to be reminded.
So let me be that person to remind you: YOU can take the lead in your job, YOU can ask for different work. Heck, you can even look to take some of your existing tasks off your list if someone else is better suited to do them, so you have room to work on things that light you up.
These changes will make a difference. They will impact how you feel at work and about your work. They’ll be noticed in your performance because you’ll be more aligned to what matters to you and what you’re good at.
I’d love to hear from you – and I WILL respond to you – so please hit reply and let me know if this has been helpful for you.
Have a great week!
Eva