Is it a skill? Is it an attitude? Is it both? The answer to these questions is yes. Whether we’re guided by how others treat us or how we treat them, we cannot lose by giving more.
If we care about living up to expectations, we must take responsibility for our actions. In this article, I’ll go over several areas of responsibility where you can learn how to give more, even though you may have never thought of it as a skill.
How Responsibility Helps You in Life
Responsibility is an individual skill that everyone needs, and it’s a transferable skill because we learn it from our parents, teachers, or friends. Responsibility is the ability to take on a task and be responsible for it, no matter how it turns out. It’s a specific skill that requires management skills. Even if you aren’t a project manager or a leader at work, you must be responsible for your own life.
Essential to Your Career
Whether you’re a job seeker or want to develop it for your own personal responsibility, it’s one of these leadership skills that are to have in life. It’s also a core value and should be the foundation for all your other soft skills and hard skills.
It should be in your toolbox so you can pull it out when you need it.
Responsibility is one of those leadership skills that an employer wants to see in their employees. You’ll often find a reference to it in a job description.
I know you may think this sounds like the same old advice, but it’s really not. The point is that responsibility can be taught and learned, which means there are concrete steps we can all take to become more responsible.
At Home: There Are a Few Tasks That Are Essential
- Paying all bills on time is your personal responsibility. This can be difficult because sometimes life gets in the way and we forget something before the due date. If you stick to your personal responsibility, it’s good for your credit score and helps keep your finances under control. If you don’t pay your bills by the due date, you may pay late fees or other charges that add up over time. This isn’t fair to you or our creditors.
- Buy things ahead of time, when you need them, and plan for them in advance so we aren’t stuck with unexpected expenses when needed items are on sale (e.g., basic food, toilet paper). Having money ready in advance also saves us from financial surprises later, such as interest or late payment fees (often incurred when we forget an unavoidable expense and have already paid a bill).
- Being healthy is an increasingly important part of our lives, but it’s not always easy to maintain. There are so many things that can go wrong, and it’s hard to know where best to start. Eat a balanced diet of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. This is the foundation of any healthy diet.
Exercise Regularly
A little exercise will keep your body fit and healthy. If you can’t afford a gym membership or a personal trainer, find an activity you enjoy at home or do something in the community – walking the dog, playing basketball with friends or jogging in the park are good options. Exercise doesn’t have to be complicated; find something you can do every day that gets you moving.
Reduce the Stress in Your Life
Stress makes you tired and fatigued and can cause minor problems like fatigue and pain to worsen without relief from medications or treatments. Eliminating sources of stress from your life can help you rest better at night and feel healthier overall.
Being Responsible at Work
Even if you have the most important hard skill or some specific technical skills, or the work experience required by your employer, there are other key skills that can advance your career. Responsibility is one of them, along with effective communication skills and other interpersonal skills, in addition to your other skills, especially if you’re or want to become a project manager.
Here is some general career advice:
Sit Back in Meetings and Presentations
You don’t neglect your duties. You take them on. You attend meetings and presentations, you don’t avoid them. You ask for help when you need it, but you also make sure you offer your help whenever possible. This is how responsibility becomes a job skill: through practice and refinement until there’s nothing left but the ability to take on more and make a difference in any situation.
Volunteer for New Tasks and Projects
By taking on more responsibility, you naturally develop your ability to take charge. In the workplace, you should always look for opportunities to grow in your field. Asking for more responsibility is one way to do this.
You could start by asking your boss or supervisor if he or she’s any special projects they need help with that aren’t part of your normal duties.
This will give you a taste of additional responsibility and help you prove yourself as a valuable employee who’s ready for new challenges.
When you feel ready, you can ask for new tasks that are part of an important project but still within the scope of your current position (e.g.: “I’m happy to take on this task from my boss because I know it’s important and critical to the success of our company”). If your boss can’t think of a project or task right off the bat, reach out anyway! Don’t underestimate the value of offering to take on small tasks for someone else. And when you do take on those tasks, make sure things are done to the highest standard – people will notice how responsible and hardworking you are!
Take on Additional Leadership Roles Within Your Team
Take on additional leadership roles within your team, such as calling meetings and coordinating tasks.
Demonstrate that you’re a team player by maintaining positive working relationships with your colleagues. This means you work well with others, are a good listener, communicate well, are empathetic, and always have their back when they need you.
Be a Good Role Model for Those Around You
Exhibit behaviors such as respect and professionalism, and take the initiative to get things done the right way.
Become a Better Listener and Work on Your Communication Skills
If you want to become more responsible, start by becoming a better listener.
When someone tells you about his day, ask for more details. Don’t interrupt him to tell him what happened to you. Listen with an open mind and look for signs that the person needs help or support. Don’t get distracted – you deserve your full attention!
You might also speak more slowly to give the other person time to process what you’re saying. Speak clearly, but don’t talk too much. You don’t want the other person to feel like they have to rush everything so they don’t bore you!
Say goodbye to the idea that it’s always best for someone to take responsibility for themselves (and not for others).
Participate in More Brainstorming Sessions
The more you participate in brainstorming sessions, the better you’ll become at it. Brainstorming can be fun and it’s a good team-building exercise.
Schedule Regular Feedback Sessions With Your Boss
Ask your boss to schedule regular feedback sessions.
Help Others Gain Time
Sending fewer emails back and forth is an important element to consider, especially for effective communication between a project manager and their subordinates.
It helps save time, money, effort, energy, resources, materials, the environment, and the planet!
Build Your Key Skills and Increase Your Competency in the Workplace
As you may have noticed, skills are transferable. By taking responsibility outside of work, you build a habit that will help you succeed in the workplace.
By taking responsibility inside and outside of work, you’ll earn a reputation as a hard worker and outstanding colleague, which can lead to more opportunities and growth.
How to Improve Leadership Skills
By improving your interpersonal skills, you can become a better leader who solves problems faster and handles conflict more effectively.
There are many soft skills that contribute to a person’s leadership abilities. Strong interpersonal skills are one of the most important. By improving your interpersonal skills, you can become a better leader, solving problems faster and managing conflict more effectively.
Developing strong interpersonal skills can help you achieve your goal(s) and gain more leadership experience.
Jobs That Don’t Involve Responsibility
Every job these days requires you to have a responsibility, even if you’re not a project manager and you’re only in charge of one simple thing.
For example, if you work as a waiter or a customer service salesperson, part of your job duties is to make sure the customer is happy. Customer service skills include effective communication skills and time management skills – an important element that will show up in your job search.
How and Why Should You List Your Skills on a Resume?
During your job search, it’s important to identify employer keywords to match your resume. For example, if management skills or specific communication skills are in demand, you should list them in the skills section of your resume. It’s also good to add your learned skill(s) and any new skill(s) you want to acquire – because sometimes the employer may not have thought of an essential element you may bring to the table.