10 Tips For Adding Value By Showing Initiative

In these tough times, it is absolutely critical you continue to demonstrate your value to your employer, clients, and colleagues on a daily basis. Adding value is THE buzz-word for “safe-guarding” your career and propelling yourself to the top of your profession.

Showing initiative is a must-do in demonstrating your value at work. Initiative correlates strongly with personal achievement and professional development. It is the act of taking personal responsibility for your growth, and it is a clear sign of your capacity to develop as a leader.

So, what are you waiting for? Take action today; don’t wait to be asked – be proactive. Consider the following ideas for lighting the fire of initiative in your daily work life:

• Always be alert for ways to make something work better. Make the suggestion.Volunteer to take ownership for getting it done.
• Take it upon yourself be the first to adopt and implement the newest company policy.
• Stay alert for ideas to simplify processes, and find new and better ways of doing things. Proactively suggest those improvement ideas. Be the example for implementing those processes.
• Stay alert for ways to save money and reduce costs. “Raise your hand” to communicate those suggestions as quickly as possible.
• Reach out to colleagues and team members who need help.
• Be the first to volunteer for those tough projects and assignments.
• Always think ahead. Preempt likely obstacles with well-thought-out plans that take those obstacles into consideration.
• Provide, in advance, the answers to the questions you know are going to be asked. “Think like your boss/manager” and consider all deliverables from their perspective before you submit them. Always review your work from the elevation of “30,000 feet.”
• Always do your homework; always be prepared. Read the material in advance, research the subject matter in advance, dig in and immerse yourself in the topic at hand
• Deal with problems immediately; take action and be decisive. Get it done, and get it behind you as quickly as possible.

Make it happen! Be a role model for showing initiative; demonstrate your capacity as a leader.  Make the choice to lead with action and initiative; your value will soar.