Take initiative & walk your way to success

Do you feel unchallenged at work? Do you have problems identifying new ventures? Do you find it difficult to discover new responsibilities that you would like to shoulder? Do you remain perplexed at having your boss make the best use of you and your expertise?

The above bewilderments are quite common and manifest your keen desire to work for your company in a more consequential manner. However, the important issue is how to give such a wish shape and direction.

You must acknowledge the truth that if you have problems in trying to contribute more to your organization, your boss would perhaps be in a similar quandary. Remember that your boss has more responsibilities and accountability; and hence looking for means to make better use of you, though in his or her charter, is something easily shelved.

At all workplaces, there are a number of people who tend to grumble about under-utilization of their skills. But regrettably, the initiative that ought to be displayed by them in this context is rather low. The fact is that such people simply keep reiterating that their capabilities are under-estimated and that they have the potential to put in more; whether or not they put in sustained hard work to reveal that is a million dollar question. 

The above thus raises serious doubt about their contentions. As a matter of fact, they are a jaded lot who are not contested at all; and this gives them reason to grumble. It is not that everybody who feels underutilized or under-worked is not more endowed or more capable; and authentically seeks to find genuine and concrete methods to put their skills perceived to be overlooked to better use.

The first and foremost step that you should take is to take the onus of the dilemma. It is pointless to hold others responsible for whatever is transpiring. You simply cannot look forward to others finding ways and means to utilize you optimally. It may appear that the circumstances are not favourable to you or things cannot be dominated by you. However, you must get on to take control of the situation and take all necessary actions to find a remedy to your dilemma. Here is how you can do so:

·   Assess how you are faring:  Your maiden task should be to ensure that you are not found wanting in your current job profile; all assigned tasks should be excellently executed. It is only then that you should seek varied and additional responsibilities. If you are a run of the mill type vis-à-vis your current job, it does not stand to logic exploring higher responsibilities. Your efforts should be directed at where they are primarily supposed to be; it is subsequently that you should contemplate looking at other prospects.

·   Identify what you seek:  It is next to impossible laying hands on what you are not clear about. You need to visibly and unmistakably characterize what you want to do. To do so, you have to understand specific skills possessed by you that could be better made use of or those that you need to sharpen; and reflect on what the final picture should appear as. In other words, you must identify particular assignments that you would prefer to take on and summarize issues that you would like to be involved with and contribute to.

·   Find out how your boss can help:  Bosses can be forgetful and need to be reminded about what is to be done including specific projects that can be undertaken by you. While approaching them, you have to be specific in your requests and be able to justify them. The boss will thus evaluate you and your requests in the light of larger company interests.

·   Be enterprising & have an upper hand:  There is nothing wrong in displaying initiative and taking on additional responsibilities. You should try to infuse greater efficiency, introduce interior economy measures and boost productivity. You could well devise ways and means to come up with ingenuous ideas and implement them. This will boost your image in the perception of your boss and co-workers alike. It is likely that seeing this, you may get to be in charge of a greater program.

They always say time changes things, but you actually have to change them yourself. Remember that your wisdom is the ultimate tool for forging your future.