Reliability and consistency
Employers hire individuals based on their ability to perform the duties and responsibilities detailed within an official job description. The job description is a written explanation of what each employee is responsible for completing and clearly outlines the qualifications and expectations the company has. It is important for each employee to be aware of the requirements set for them to maintain a positive and productive work environment. Let's learn what work responsibility is, why its important in the work environment, and ways for you to achieve more responsibility in the workplace and reach your career goals.
What is work responsibility?
Work responsibility is when an employee completes all of their job duties stated within the job description and adheres to company policy and procedures professionally and to the best of their ability. When you are responsible at work, you establish yourself as a valuable employee and a dependable coworker. Your daily actions at work, your behavior at special work-related events, and how you treat other employees all play a role in responsibility at work. The type of job-specific responsibilities you have and the expectations placed on your behavior at work depend on your workplace environment and your specific role.
Why work responsibility is important
Responsibility is important in the workplace because it shows your professionalism, can advance your career, helps build professional bonds with coworkers, and shows company leadership that you are a valuable employee. Supervisors value employees who exhibit responsibility because they know they can trust you to complete tasks on time and submit high-caliber work. Responsible employees are professionals with a consistent work ethic who take actions daily toward their professional goals.
Responsible employees work to advance company success and strive to perform their daily duties well. Responsible employees are engaged in their daily activities and establish a culture of accountability that advances individual careers and increases company productivity. Assuming responsibility at work can benefit you in the ways listed below.
1. Reveals your character
Your responsibility for your workplace duties demonstrates your work ethic. Being a responsible employee shows you take pride in your work and validates your worth. Supervisors will view you as a dependable and self-reliant employee and have faith in your abilities.
2. Helps secure your position
A responsible employee helps to provide the company with consistency and security. Your strong work ethic and dependable nature are demonstrative of your value and make employers want to retain your talent. By assuming your responsibility at work, you become an asset to the organization and gain job security because employers tend to keep employees who deliver the best work and show constancy in their behavior.
3. Show accountability
Having accountability means that you accept the consequences of your actions, whether they be good or bad. Employers value honesty in workers who can admit to mistakes and take the actions needed to remedy them. Workers who are accountable learn from their mistakes and become better because of them. Working to rectify your errors, and accepting praise for a job well done, shows confidence in your skills and knowledge.
4. Establishes trust
Honesty when admitting an error and the moral character to cheer others on for their accomplishments helps to develop trust in the workplace. Coworkers will value your presence, input, and relationship when they view you as a comrade rather than competition. You can establish trust with colleagues by recognizing their contributions, working together to reach a goal, sharing ideas to improve workplace success, and showing a genuine interest in them and their personal lives. Although you don't have to be best friends with everyone at your job, learning about other people shows you value their individuality and respect them. Develop mutual respect with coworkers and supervisors to develop trust, credibility, and foster a healthy company culture.
5. Positions you for advancement
Responsibility is important in the workplace because a strong work ethic and respect for others can impress your employer and open up opportunities for career advancement.
How to achieve more work responsibility in the workplace
Think about ways to exhibit the following traits through your actions to earn the trust of your colleagues and supervisors to gain more responsibilities at work and position yourself for a promotion or raise.
1. Awareness
When working to show you are a responsible employee, take the first step by ensuring you are fully aware of your job responsibilities. Review your job description and be knowledgeable of any current project goals. Employers value workers who understand the scope of their job and are focused on completing their duties to the best of their ability. Make sure you try to do your best when executing your job responsibilities before you take on additional tasks or help others.
2. Integrity
Integrity is a skill and trait that takes time to develop. Employees with integrity follow a strong moral code and can be trusted to make decisions that are ethical and benefit the company and those around them. This soft skill is a quality necessary for effective leadership and can gain the attention of your supervisor, setting you up for a promotion. Express good and logical judgement and treat others professionally to show your sincere and honest nature.
3. Resilience
Resilience, the will to continue when faced with obstacles and the stamina to continue after you have failed, leads to successful employees and a dynamic and growing company culture. Strong employees know that growth only happens after failure and defeat is a great teacher. Learn from your mistakes and use them as inspiration to do better next time.
4. Accountability
Accept the consequences of your actions to take accountability. Although responsibility and accountability are related, they are not the same. Being responsible at work for your duties means taking action, while accountability is the result of those actions. Knowing how to accept praise or recognition for quality work and accepting blame when your actions create problems are both forms of accountability. Being accountable for your actions and showing self-reflection by discussing the consequences will help managers build trust in you.
5. Decisiveness
When you have to make a decision at work, do so with confidence. Being decisive means making informed decisions and having the certainty to see them through.
6. Determination
Your determination and drive to succeed are evidence of your dedication to your job and industry. When you seek opportunities to develop both your hard skills and soft skills, your supervisor will see your fortitude and persistence.
Tips for showing work responsibility on the job
While you work to hone your skills and establish your worth as an employee, you can show you have a sense of responsibility at work through consistency in your daily actions and behavior. Consider the following tips to show work responsibility on the job.
1. Be punctual
Arrive on time daily, show up to meetings a few minutes early, and complete tasks by, or before, deadlines to show your respect and appreciation of others’ time.
2. Remain positive
An optimistic attitude is conducive to a healthy workplace environment and makes overcoming challenges easier. When you are positive, finding solutions is a welcomed task and opportunity to grow. Your optimism can enhance your critical thinking skills and inspire others to want to work with you toward a solution.
3. Practice active listening
Work responsibility requires good listening skills. Practice active listening when communicating with others by making good eye contact, eliminating distractions, waiting for your turn to speak, having an open and inviting posture, and asking clarifying questions to fully understand the message. They will appreciate your efforts and your actions will help to build strong bonds among your peers.
4. Motivate others
Encourage others to create goals and praise them for quality work. Show you value your colleagues by recognizing their efforts and support in your job. You can give a kind word of praise or send a considerate thank-you note to communicate the sentiment. It is a professional and kind act that will be noticed.
5. Volunteer
Volunteering at work for extra duties shows you want to help the company succeed and you are ready for more responsibility. Make sure you complete your regular duties to the best of your ability to ensure you are not over-committing. Volunteering can be an excellent learning experience and may align you with further opportunities for advancement.
6. Be flexible
A transferable skill that can benefit you in both your personal and professional life is flexibility. Be able to judge when you have to adjust your efforts or change your perspective in order to reach a goal. This trait can help you be a better team member and a more reliable employee.
It is important to be successful at work and have a sense of purpose in your daily duties. Work responsibility is an important characteristic to establish your value as an employee and maintain a positive company culture. A positive work environment will recognize you for taking responsibility at work and support your career path goals.