By embracing responsibility, then we have free reign of working, living and being the best version of ourselves we can be.
We have talked about building trust and increasing our influence a lot, because they are the essence of leadership. When it comes to building trust with our boss, what is the easiest way to do that? GET RESULTS!
When it comes stopping your boss from micro-managing you and the team, what is the easiest way to do that? GET RESULTS! When it comes to increasing our influence with our boss, what is the easiest way to do that? GET RESULTS!
If you were the boss and one of your team members is getting excellent results for you, what would you do next? It’s pretty obvious, you would ask that team member to take on more work or be involved in more projects.
The reason for that is because as a team, your ultimate role is to get results for the organisation, no matter what field you are in.
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So, you would encourage the team members who gets the best results to do more so they can achieve similar results in further projects.
Being a boss and encouraging your best people to take on more work will encourage the rest of the team to work harder, and hopefully increase their potential to get the same or similar results.
However, in my experience, I have worked in teams with individuals who will not put the extra effort in to get good results. They do this because they know what will happen if they do get good results.
They know that their boss will ask them to do more if they do an excellent job. So, to avoid being asked to do more work, they will do just enough to get the job done to a satisfactory level. By doing just enough ensures that they are still part of the team, still in a job, and still being paid for their efforts.
It also gives the impression that they do a good job every day, but they know they can do a lot more, and a lot better with more effort.
I’m not suggesting that these individuals are poor or are the wrong people to be in the team, they are just not high flyers or looking to make a difference. They are average doing an average or a just enough kind of job.
If we had a full team of average people who were not achieving the best results they could, then something would need to change.
Doing a good job is just average, doing an excellent job is just excellent. What kind of job would you rather do?
1. Be The Leader Within The Team
To be a leader within your team we need to increase our influence with the leaders of our department and the organisation as a whole. How do you do that? You become an excellent team member and hard worker who achieves excellent results. You do not do that by being an average team member who achieves average results.
As you are reading this article, I am making an assumption that you are still interested in what we are discussing and you want to know a lot more.
I am very excited for what you will do when you have finished this article. I know that you want to change your life and create the best future for yourself.
I take a lot of pride in helping you, and it is obvious to me that you will become that excellent team member, leader and the best person you can be. So that you can achieve excellent results for your team and be successful in your life.
2. Be The Best Person you Can Be
To be a high flyer, you need to make sure that people know who you are, they know the impact you have made already, and they know that you have the potential to make an even bigger impact. If you are working with average people in your team then they will leave the pathway open for you to get noticed and make that big impact.
When I started my career, I worked in a team with people who only wanted to do an average job. So, I worked my hardest to be the best I could be to become an excellent engineer, and achieve great results for the team. I didn’t want to be just an average engineer who did an average job and avoid extra work.
Not many people would put that extra work in to be the best they can be, even though everybody in the world would love to be the best they can be at whatever they do. It amazes me how so many people do not want to put that extra effort in.
What I would like to discuss now is what we need to do to make ourselves that excellent team member, who achieves great results for the team. You see, most people are focussed on getting a pay rise or a promotion rather than focussing on becoming the best that they can be.
If you focus on working on yourself, being the excellent team member and leader within your team, then the pay rises and higher positions will come to you.
So, what we are about to discuss must become a habit throughout your career.
3. Focus On Embracing Responsibility, Not Getting Paid
One common thing throughout the world of business is, most people don’t believe they are paid enough in their jobs. They complain a lot about their pay, and therefore do not put in the effort to do an excellent job to achieve excellent results.
People feel that if their pay is increased, they will then put in that effort to do a better job. Their focus is solely on pay, not doing an excellent job or achieving excellent results.
Every job I have ever had, I have never been paid within the first four weeks of starting with the company. I have always had to complete my tasks four weeks before they pay me, then after four weeks I get my first payment.
So, asking for more responsibility or EMBRACING RESPONSIBILITY is the best and most powerful way to get you a pay rise. But most importantly, asking for more responsibility is very powerful when wanting to increase our influence. How I did this was to ask, ask, ask.
Ask to be on a continuous improvement team, ask to be on new project teams, ask to chair or be involved in meetings. Even volunteer for things that you won’t get paid for, especially that can help others. E.g. apprentice events, graduate events or mentoring/coaching (If you have done it before).
You will not be turned away from asking to help others within your department or the organisation. It is a win-win for all involved.
After a while, I stopped asking and just got on with it. If you know that something needs to change or be done within the team or organisation, then just do it. This is EMBRACING RESPONSIBILITY at its highest level.
It might seem daunting at first to just do things without permission, but I promise you, your team and boss will thank you for it. This is another powerful way to increase your influence.
As I have said many times throughout my site, who do you work for? YOU! By EMBRACING RESPONSIBILITY and volunteering, your people will be on fire spreading the word about you. That is the power you will have to increase your influence.
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People will start coming to you for advice. Your relationships will build and build. People will raise you up as a leader within the organisation, even when you don’t have a leadership position or title.
There will also be those average team members who will try their best to put you down because you’re “showing them up”. Believe me, I have had it hundreds of times throughout my career, name calling etc. Don’t let it bother you. Stay true to your purpose to help others and nothing will phase you.
You are an excellent team member and you are willing to do what average team members aren’t willing to do – EMBRACE RESPONSIBILITY.
Are you creating the life you want, or are you just existing in the life you have?
If you don’t know where you want to be in five years, you are already there
I welcome hearing how this post has influenced the way you think, the way you lead, or the results you have achieved because of what you’ve learned in it. Please feel free to share your thoughts with me by commenting below.
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All the best,
Awesome post, there is no question any time in my career that I took responsibility and intentionally looked to take an active leadership role by helping my fellow colleagues I was eventually rewarded by the company. The top brass notice people going above and beyond their responsibilities. Plus I found work became more enjoyable. Cheers!
Hi Robb,
Thank you for your comment. Really pleased you found it valuable.
It’s great to hear that you do embrace responsibility, and by helping your colleagues, you definitely were and are a leader. It’s also great to hear that your senior leaders noticed this.
Keep leading and keep engaging. If there is anything I can do to help with your leadership or personal growth, please let me know.
All the best,
Tom
Hey there,
That’s an insanely insightful piece.
I remember the words of Spider-man’s dad – with great power comes great responsibility.
You article helped me realize a few things so thanks.
Hi Asen,
Thank you for your kind words. I’m so happy that you found the article helpful.
Spider-man’s dad was right. When you increase your powers, you increase your responsibility, and you will also increase your influence. Make sure your influence is positive.
If there is anything more I can help you with in your leadership or personal growth, then please don’t hesitate to contact me.
All the best,
Tom
Hi Tom,
great job. It is a fact that the best way to measure Leadership is through Responsibility. Any leader who is not ready for responsibility, is not a leader. Also, the true test for responsibility is Result.
The world is in need of true Leaders in all aspect of life. Keep up the good work.
Cheers
Hi Joseph,
Thank you for your comment. Responsibility is a way to measure leadership. Another way is the amount of people you help and how your followers feel about you.
The world is in need of true leaders, do you think you could be one of them?
All the best,
Tom
Hey Tom,
Damn! I felt like you punched me in the nose at the end when the conclusion sprung out out from those quotes.
You made me remember what’s it’s like to be around straight talking people. I’m going to make sure that I’m always surrounded by a few, including you via your blog.
The wisdom and practically in it is invaluable.
Best,
Wjtera
Hi Wjtera,
Thank you for your comment. I apologise for virtually punching you in the nose 🙂
I’m so pleased you found the article helpful, and thank you for including my blog in your inner circle.
If there is anything more I can help you with in your leadership and personal growth, then please don’t hesitate to contact me.
All the best,
Tom
Really good post. Makes you look at your own performance and see what you can improve upon. Like you said, if you embrace responsibility and do and excellent job then it won’t be long before you stand out to the boss and of course a pay increase is more likely to follow. Thanks for reminding us to put in the extra effort.
Hi Debbie,
Thank you for your comment. Really pleased you found it valuable.
No problem, I am here to help you in anyway I can. Especially with how the world is at the minute. If I can help you in your leadership or personal growth then please don’t hesitate to ask me.
Keep working on yourself, and keep putting in the extra effort.
All the best,
Tom
The subject matter of this post is of zero interest to me, but you are quite a skilled writer who explains himself in a potent way – I also like the theme you have chosen for your website, which is very slick and corporate.
Hi Simon,
I appreciate the feedback.
All the best,
Tom
Tom, great post! I could not agree more with this. Have you heard of Jocko Willink? He has a book called Extreme Ownership that goes over this exact point. I am still learning this daily! Thanks for sharing.
Hi Vince,
Thank you for your comment. Really pleased you found it valuable.
I have not heard of Jocko Willink (I am still building up my book shelf). If he writes about responsibility in his book then I will definitely take a look at that. Thank you for the recommendation, really appreciate it.
Keep learning, working on yourself every day, and keep engaging.
All the best,
Tom
Tom, I totally agree 100% with everything you say and I believe I was that person when I was a software developer working in full-time employment, but I felt I wasn’t been appreciated enough and so I took that step into Freelance, not only for the money but to see the world and branch out and learn other things.
Very few people actually enjoy what they do for a living and I believe it’s finding the right balance, but more importantly finding a great company with great colleagues, which is very hard to find.
Great article and thanks for sharing
Mick
Hi Mick,
Thank you for your comment. Really pleased you found it valuable.
It’s great to hear that when you worked in full time employment you did embrace responsibility, and that has transferred to your freelance work. Congratulations in doing that.
You are right, it is difficult to find a company with great colleagues. However, as long as you are doing all you can to be the leader you wish you had, and if you cannot change the culture, after exhausting all of your avenues, then it is time to move on.
Keep well, keep engaging, and all the best in your business.
Tom
Thanks for an insightful and direct piece. I’ve seen this in action so many times in all the places I have worked in different cultures. Those who step up and embrace responsibility get noticed and get ahead. As you say this may engender resentment from others who prefer not to stick out and just do an average job. But putting more in is the surest way to reap the greatest rewards. Thanks again.
Hi Andy,
Thank you for your comment. Appreciate that you found it helpful.
You are right, embracing responsibility do get ahead, but that shouldn’t be the sole focus. We should embrace responsibility and use that responsibility to help others get ahead too.
Keep putting in the effort, keep engaging, and all the best to you my friend.
Tom
Being an active leader who takes responsibility is a must for those who work at home. I can’t pass off the buck to anyone as I’m solely responsible for what happens with my business.
I want to be an excellent leader or at least try to encompass that role. Great article, makes me aware of what needs to be done.
Hi Eric,
Thanks for your comment. Really pleased you found it valuable.
It is so great to hear that you are working on yourself to become a highly effective leader. You are so right, working from home still requires you to lead yourself, and lead your team remotely. You have responsibility and must embrace it when it is your business. I love how you say that.
Keep up the amazing work, keep engaging, and keep safe.
All the best,
Tom
Your article is great! but what does someone do if they experience burn out? Taking on more responsibilities for me personally, would not get me a pay raise in my job. That doesn’t mean that I still don’t give my all, but burnout can come fast and it happens to everyone. What do you do?
Hi Elise,
Thank you for your comment. Really appreciate your question.
If I experience burnout then I take some time off to reflect. I reflect on why I experienced burnout first. Am I doing the right things? Am I taking on too much? Have I spoken to my leader to discuss why I am burning out, and if others in the team can take on some of the workload I have?
If I am burning out then the first person I tell is my leader. Do not keep it to yourself and be honest with yourself and others. I burnt out in 2018, and I had to take time off because I was in a really bad place. I then used that time to workout why I got to that place, and what I can do to get back on the right path.
You may not get a pay rise initially, but the more you increase your influence, over time you will eventually get the pay rise you deserve. One thing to keep in mind, you are not doing it for the pay rise, you are doing this because you want to help more people and increase your influence.
Hope that helps. If you need any further help then please don’t hesitate to contact me.
All the best,
Tom
Hey Tom, this is an interesting, and thought-provoking piece.
The key phrase being, to lead you have to serve. Embracing responsibility isn’t going to be a smooth journey at first but you would definitely get to feel the impact as you develop.
This definitely resonated with me.
Thanks once again for this post Tom.
Hi Charles,
Thank you for your comment. I’m really pleased that you found the article interesting and thought-provoking.
I love how you picked out a key phrase of; “to lead you have to serve”. You are absolutely right here, and also embracing responsibility is a very important but small part of the leadership journey and is lifelong.
Keep returning, keep engaging and keep leading.
All the best,
Tom