Taking ownership of your job is a way to increase your value to your employer and in the marketplace.
Here is what you need to do to own your job.
- Choose a job that suits what you are good at and what you enjoy doing
- Make sure you are clear on your responsibilities and can deliver as expected or better
- Develop a be your own boss attitude
- Know-yourself and your strengths and challenges
- Keep improving through on-going learning and personal development initiatives
Choose A Job That Suits What You Are Good at and What You Enjoy Doing
Most people can do a lot of different things and have held a variety of positions. But there are some skills that you are probably best at and come more naturally. Know what those are and hopefully they are aligned with what you enjoy doing.
As well, choose the right company to work for where you can fit with the culture and that has values you share.
Make Sure You Are Clear on Your Responsibilities and Can Deliver as Expected
Tasks and responsibilities are what you are hired to perform, and they are not always clear. How can you meet performance expectations if what you need to do and how well is not spelled out?
If you are owning your job and things are not clear, then you need to sit down with you boss and align yourself with his/her expectations.
Make sure that your level of authority for decision making is discussed and reviewed every 6 months or annually.
Develop A Be Your Own Boss Attitude
You are like a business! I call that the YOU Inc way of thinking. Your talents and abilities make up your assets and you market those assets to your employer (customer) in exchange for money and benefits.
The more you increase your talents and abilities, the more you will be in demand and can negotiate better pay and benefits. So, invest in yourself!
Know-Yourself and Your Strengths and Challenges
Knowing yourself and your strengths and weaknesses helps you to choose the right career and to find ways to get better. This ties in with point number one.
Knowing yourself goes deeper and self-knowledge is often said to be the key to success and happiness in all aspects of life.
Here is a free online personality test to help you understand your personality.
Keep Improving Through On-Going Learning and Personal Development Initiatives
We can increase our talents and abilities that make up our assets. Once you realize you are a business and that you can increase your value by developing your talents and abilities, why wouldn’t you?
Develop a habit of continuous improvement and you will find yourself enjoying opportunities to solve problems and face new challenges. This will potentially give your more money but also increase your appetite for change and success.
Here is an article and video on the YOU Inc. exercise to help you get started on personal improvement.