How to Show Initiative at Work

  Most employees settle into their jobs in a few weeks and performing according to expectations.
They think this is enough to hold them in good stead when it comes to appraisals but the truth is that you are only rewarded if you step outside your comfort zone and show some initiative apart from your own work. Here’s how you can make yourself count with these tips on taking initiative at your workplace.

Recognise requirement

Each organisation has a skill set that you can exploit. Before offering your services, ensure that the requirement that is known in the top echelons and that your eventual offer will actually benefit the company in a quantifiable way. There is a difference between minimising paper work for your office and saving money for the company rather than using your smartphone for all your back-of-the-page calculations and telling your boss you saved pages!

Find opportunities

The most embarrassing part of any meeting is the awkward silence that creeps in when the boss asks if somebody wants to do something that nobody wants to do. Evaluate all the pros and cons in a micro-second and if it sounds even mildly important to your stock in the workplace, say you will take it up. At this stage, any experience will only help you in the years ahead. Once you have your priorities clear, you will find such opportunities round the corner. Take advantage of them.

Be action-oriented

Guess what the biggest movies of the last three years had in common? Action. From ‘Dabangg’ to ‘Bodyguard to ‘Rowdy Rathore’, action is what makes people sit up and take notice. If your initiative doesn’t involve action, it is unlikely to be rewarded. Ensure that you ask and get work that will make everyone know you’re working on it.

Manage expectations

Once you take up a role outside of your designated job profile, it is the easiest thing in the world for your manager to assume that you’ve taken charge of the role. It is important to clear whether your initiative is a short term arrangement or whether it requires a longer commitment. If unsure, check with your HR manager for advice. You will begin to feel frustrated if you do dual roles with one salary. Ensure that expectations are similar across all levels.

Avoid being over-eager

Do not try and take up every offer that comes your way. This will just make you irritating to your boss and nosy to your colleagues. Taking initiative without arousing suspicions about your motives is a skilled art. Everybody wants to be seen as reliable and dependable and taking extra opportunities is a sureshot way of doing that. However, you need to draw a line somewhere. Recognise your shortcomings and step away when you know you won’t be able to deliver.