You can’t be a good employee if you don’t take ownership of your role in the team. Even when working with others, you need to care about their results just like yours. You should help the team achieve the desired results.
What is taking ownership?
Taking ownership is accepting responsibility for your actions and ownership of outcomes. You take accountability for your ideas, tasks, decisions, objectives, and choices, especially at work.
It is a commitment you make to follow through with something. The key is doing an activity with complete personal responsibility rather than as a favor or duty.
How do you take ownership at work?
You can assume responsibility in a leadership role, or you could be the one who takes the initiative and starts acting like a leader without being told.
If you are looking for some ways of how to take ownership in your workplace, here are 16 notable examples of taking ownership at work:
1. Taking responsibility for your actions
Actions speak louder than words and are even more vital in the workplace. If things go wrong and someone needs to be held accountable, don’t blame others for saying they told you to do it.
Own up to your mistakes with no excuses — this will help others become accountable for their actions moving forward.
2. Looking for a challenge
Seeking a new assignment to feel challenged and fulfilled is a great way to stay motivated in any work environment. So, you take ownership over your work and seek out projects that make you passionate about the new challenge.
When you seek out new opportunities, it shows that you are interested in advancing your career.
Read also: 11 Good Examples of Showing Initiative at Work
3. Testing your skills and abilities
Many people have great ideas, but nothing will happen if you don’t act on them. Without thinking of new ways to improve something, there will not be any progress.
People who take ownership are always trying to make things better, even if it puts them at risk. They are willing to face the consequences of their actions head-on without fear of being judged.
If you have a good idea, say it and see what happens or go out on your own if need be. Making suggestions that stretch beyond your job role is a great way to take ownership.
4. Reacting promptly to problems
You don’t procrastinate when there is a problem. When you encounter a challenge and act immediately, it demonstrates your sense of ownership.
Not only that, but it also shows you care about resolving issues and are willing to do what it takes to solve the problem.
5. Overdelivering on expectations
Over-delivering on expectations is when you do more than what your boss or employer asks of you or demands from you. You deliver more results than they expect and do it without asking for anything in return.
Instead of complaining about extra work or a heavy workload, you rise to the occasion and come through with exceptional results. So, when you do more than expected shows a sense of ownership.
6. Initiating change
Initiating change is taking the initiative to generate new ideas and make improvements. You realize there is always room for improvement.
So, you bring a fresh perspective on old issues and find unique solutions even when it requires challenging the status quo or going against other people’s opinions.
Like everywhere else, initiating change in the workplace is no easy task, but it is necessary to stay competitive.
People who instigate change put themselves in the line of fire. They take heat from other people because they are brave enough to stand up and say that something needs to change for the better.
Read more: 24 Examples of a Good Manager
7. Doing your job with passion
Do not just act like you are interested in what you do actually, be interested in it. Show that the job matters and put your best foot forward. Look for new ways to improve how you do things and never stop learning.
If you do not like what you are doing, there is no point in continuing with it — but if you enjoy it, taking ownership should come more naturally to you.
8. Highlighting your mistakes publicly
People respect a person who accepts their mistake rather than trying to make excuses or blame others. If you make an error, own it and explain how you will fix it. It is a way of showing that you take responsibility for your work and any mistakes made.
9. Speaking on behalf of others
Volunteering to serve as a spokesperson on an important issue for more people to become aware of it is another way to take ownership.
Making an effort to talk for others on a topic you care about is a great way to show your dedication and compassion for something outside of yourself. It is a way of taking ownership of anything of importance to you and act on it.
10. Experimenting with new capabilities
Good examples of taking ownership include experimenting with new capabilities or approaches that stretch you as an employee. People who take ownership strive for excellence and want to do better than what’s expected of them, no matter how high the bar is set.
Stretching yourself by trying new things outside your comfort zone can develop you into a more well-rounded professional with varied skill sets.
Read also: 8 Examples of What to Tell Your Manager to Improve On
11. Checking on your manager or coworkers
You check in with your manager or team members to make sure that everything is going well. If there is a need to help, you are the first to show your willingness to take on additional tasks.
You care about your work and want to make sure others are doing well — which means staying in contact with them frequently throughout your day.
12. Setting yourself career development goals
Setting yourself career development goals is one of the first steps to take ownership in your job role. Ask yourself what you want out of this job and how that aligns with achieving company goals.
For example, if you are looking for a promotion or raise within six months then outline specific actions that will lead to these results by taking small manageable steps forward.
You can also set goals for yourself that will help you develop new skills and expand your horizons.
13. Soliciting feedback from your boss and peers
Soliciting feedback is to seek constructive remarks about your actions or lack of to improve your work. You can ask both your peers and boss, especially if you are looking at taking ownership of the areas where you are struggling or need growth opportunities.
Strive to improve yourself daily through feedback from other people to continue being successful at your work.
If there are any areas where you need improvement, asking for help is a good step forward in taking responsibility for your development.
Also read: 10 Ways How to Be Attentive to Details
14. Accepting challenges
Accepting new challenges means that you are ready to take on something new, even if you lack enough knowledge or experience. Taking challenges confidently is to recognize that challenges are opportunities for growth and improvement.
When you take ownership of your work, you may be required to embark on a project or task outside the scope of your everyday responsibilities. But you can succeed if you are willing to put your mind and effort into learning new things.
You can learn a lot from challenging situations because they help develop your teamwork skills and give you a sense of purpose.
15. Being proactive
People who take ownership are more likely to be proactive, which means they will complete tasks before being asked or bring ideas for improving processes within their department.
Taking ownership is about understanding the importance of your job role in achieving company goals and taking the initiative when it seems like no one else will.
16. Taking ownership of appraisal comments
Taking ownership of appraisal comments means accepting responsibility for the appraisal feedback and using it to improve and grow. When you take ownership of appraisal comments, the overall goal is to use the feedback to improve performance and enhance personal and professional growth.
It involves reflecting on the comment, identifying areas for improvement, and setting actionable goals for yourself or developing a plan for how to better yourself in that area.
Great examples of taking ownership of appraisal comments include acknowledging the positive and negative aspects of the feedback and using them to develop a growth plan.
For instance, if the appraisal comments on your excellent teamwork skills, then use this feedback to continue improving those skills and become an even better team player.
If the appraisal comments highlight areas for improvement, such as poor time management, you can set goals to work on these skills and track progress.
Taking ownership of an appraisal comment requires you to balance humility and self-assurance. You must listen to the feedback, wholeheartedly acknowledge the areas needing improvement, and ask questions that allow a better understanding of the comments.
Conclusion
Taking ownership at work does not refer to the responsibility for specific tasks. It refers to a mentality of personally taking charge instead of sitting back and waiting for leadership or help from others.
The attitude that you should wait until it is convenient for someone else or until someone provides instruction on what to do next means you are not taking ownership.
What are your personal steps in taking ownership? You can leave your comment below