Taking initiative is a fundamental aspect of one’s career. Being proactive in the workplace is important for entry-level employees and executives alike. However, sometimes we may blur the line between taking initiative and people-pleasing, doing more than is necessary for the wrong reasons. The fear of disappointing others is the prevalent reason why we tend to people-please. This takes a toll on your productivity levels and people’s expectations of you and may also cause burnout. While being proactive is good, going beyond your boundaries will only leave you with too much on your plate. Finding the right mark between taking initiative and dismissing the need for people-pleasing is the ideal you should strive for.
Putting Yourself Up Efficiently
Putting yourself up for challenges and tasks requires a good sense of self-management. It is important to understand your abilities, skills, and what is expected of you. Having a good sense of things you are capable of will help you set good boundaries in the workplace. Having initiative means being able to work without relying on others’ instructions. It is a skill that entails thinking and acting independently when the situation calls for it. Drive and action work hand-in-hand to set your career up for success in terms of taking initiative.
Why Taking Initiative is Good for Your Career
Having initiative is a desirable trait for any employee to have. Having the confidence to put yourself up for tasks shows that you have strong ambitions. The trait is synonymous with the desire and willingness to work hard to achieve your goals. Paired with proactive thinking and the right actions, taking initiative is the key to driving productivity. Consequently, by taking enough initiative and being proactive in the workplace, you carve a path of excellent career advancement.
So what exactly counts as taking initiative in the workplace? The following are steps you can take to start putting yourself up more efficiently.
Understand what it takes to go above and beyond the tasks you have been assigned.
Take charge of situations and assume leadership when the circumstances require it.
Learn from your past mistakes instead of turning them into insecurities.
Have a good sense of priority of different tasks and responsibilities.
Be creative in finding solutions instead of waiting for someone else to fix things.
With these points in mind, you can start with small steps to become more proactive in the workplace. However, you should always consider the situation when planning to take the initiative. Knowing when and when not to act is as important as the aforementioned aspects.
When to Take Initiative
The right time is the most important thing to consider before you take initiative as well as aligning with the collective goals of the company. Taking initiative may not be as beneficial in the wrong circumstances. To maximize efficiency and productivity, you have to consider the structure of the organization, specific chain of command, and decision-making processes. Without acknowledging these factors, your actions may cause miscommunication, conflicting priorities, and confusion in the workplace.
One thing you can do to make sure you’re taking the right step is to consult with your supervisor before taking action. Finding guidance and mentorship from others, even from colleagues, will provide valuable information and perspective. This proactive approach will be appreciated by your co-workers, and it will ensure smooth internal communication. You should also know when to defer to authority figures in the workplace instead of taking on something out of your depth. Every individual has their fair share of responsibilities, so you have to make sure you’re not stepping on anyone’s toes.
It is easy to get caught up in wanting to take initiative. A desire for career advancement and learning opportunities aside, you may also get swept away by the desire to people-please.
Recognizing People-Pleasing Tendencies in The Workplace
People-pleasing comes down to the desire to keep everyone happy at your own expense. It is something that we struggle with in both our personal and professional lives, blurring our personal boundaries. While the idea of keeping everybody else contented isn’t a bad thing, too much of it impacts you negatively. People-pleasing can easily lead to self-neglect, creating a habit of needing constant validation from others.
Constantly worrying about making everyone happy at the workplace creates an unrealistic standard for your productivity and capabilities. When you prioritize others at the expense of your needs and priorities, you lag in many aspects of your work. Imagine a scenario where you’re juggling multiple projects and tasks. With various deadlines catching up, you find yourself rushing to meet all of them. You push your work to the weekends, take overtime shifts till late at night, and burn out. If this scenario seems familiar, that might be because you’re not striking that balance between taking initiative and people-pleasing tendencies.
Some people-pleasing tendencies that you can begin to identify in yourself:
The inability to say ‘no’, taking up a task just because you feel like you would disappoint others if you did not.
Avoid conflict at all costs so as not to upset others.
The inclination to agree with others even though you hold a different take.
Taking on too many tasks and responsibilities due to an inability to delegate tasks.
Over-apologizing for things.
Recognizing these patterns and tendencies is the first step to changing things for the better. The next step is shifting your approach.
Striking A Balance Between Taking Initiative and People-Pleasing
A good balance between taking initiative and people-pleasing is ideal for a successful career. This is because knowing your limitations and putting yourself up for things you’re capable of increases your efficiency at work. The key to having this balance is setting proper boundaries in your professional life to keep people-pleasing tendencies at bay. It may start with small steps to overcome the fear of disappointing others, and eventually develop into a habit.
Start by knowing your limits and try to let go of control. Learning to delegate tasks is crucial to keep your workload manageable. Set emotional, time, and energy boundaries that help you gain a better sense of self-management. Stop spending too much time and energy on things that are beyond your capabilities. Be strict about investing your emotions in projects and tasks to avoid emotional overwhelm. As you gradually make a habit out of these boundaries, you can start taking initiative at work and set it apart from people-pleasing.
Conclusion
Taking initiative in the workplace is a slippery slope when you have people-pleasing tendencies. While taking initiative is good for your career advancement, you have to do it the right way. You can overcome people-pleasing tendencies by setting proper professional boundaries. Learn and understand your limitations and how to delegate tasks. Be aware of the amount of energy you invest in your work to avoid burnout and emotional overwhelm. These small steps will help you set apart your ambitions from the desire to please others.
