Why should you ask for more responsibility at work?

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Today we are going to explore a topic that will interest some of you and scare the rest, Why should you ask for more responsibility at work? You might be thinking to yourself; Why would anyone in their right mind ask for more responsibility? And doesn't more responsibility mean more work? You are right to question and hopefully today's post will help you find the answers.

The primary purpose for this dialog is to bring to light a fundamental truth about building a career, progress is essential. You see, every time you get increased responsibility it indicates progress. More money does not necessarily mean more responsibility and you must be careful when you chase after the money and forget that there should also be some responsibility to go with it. Let me give you an example to further illustrate this point.

I am a huge sports fan and every so often you would hear about an athlete who signs a mega deal to be the star player on a team. Unfortunately, they do not always live up to initial expectations. It is not uncommon for to see these players get diminished roles on their teams which often results in added pressure to perform. As you can imagine, supporters and critics alike do not make things any easier. What point are we driving at here? What makes a player happy, the money or playing? Shouldn't he just enjoy being paid for doing nothing? You see, for a guy like this, the money is great but it is not enough to satisfy his desire to be in the game. We too must adopt this mindset in our professional lives if we are going to be successful. This principle is important because, just like in sports, the moment it is determined that you are too costly to keep around for the value that you are bringing, the relationship will be terminated.

With that understanding, we must look at having more responsibility as an opportunity to prove your worth to your employer. It exposes you to new areas and experiences that can help you grow as a professional. These experiences add up over time and only serve to make you a more versatile and well rounded employee. In the modern corporate landscape, an employee who can develop new skills over time is better suited to ride the waves of change when it does come.

As I close today's segment, asking for more responsibility shows a desire that most others don't have and definitely sets you apart from the rest. One word of caution though, if you are unreliable in your current scope of responsibilities then this advice is not for you. You run the risk of raising the ire of management. You are better suited trying to perform at expected levels before trying to handle more.

Until next time remember: as long as you have life you should live it to your fullest potential.