How to Expand Your Role Without Overstepping
Posted January 9th, 2018
Whether you are generally satisfied with your role or are actively hoping to move on to bigger and brighter things, the idea of taking on new tasks can be enticing. This may allow you to get involved in a project of particular interest, expand your skill set, or simply work with coworkers whom you happen to hold in high regard.
Figuring out how to get involved in more tasks without stepping on someone’s toes isn’t always easy, particularly as many organizations have a variety of boundaries regarding how far an employee can push beyond their current duties. But, if you fail to branch out, your career could become stagnant, and you might miss out on a plethora of new opportunities. To help you determine how to expand your role without overstepping, here are some tips to get you started.
Focus on Value
One of the most important things you need to do before you ask to have additional responsibilities or be added to a specific project is to determine precisely how you bring value by getting involved. Often, you’ll need to sell a member of management on the idea, and this is much easier to accomplish if you can explain how your participation benefits the bottom line.
Ideally, you want to quantify your reasoning as this allows you to provide hard numbers that show why allowing you to move forward is a good idea. This makes your value clearer, increasing the odds that you will secure management’s approval as your request won’t be deemed as an attempt to just bolster your resume.
Take Advantage of Existing Learning Opportunities
If your company offers learning opportunities, like mentorship or training programs, then make sure you get as much as you can from them. Since these options exist within the business, it’s highly unlikely that, but asking to take part, your request will be seen as overstepping.
You may need to begin by examining which programs are available as well as how staff members qualify for them. Then, you need to identify which opportunities are beneficial and prepare to sell management on the idea, especially if you are branching out in a way that doesn’t align with your core duties, such as by following the advice above on how to show that it provides the company with value.
Invest in Your Own Development
Sometimes, internal options will be limited, especially if you don’t want to step on anyone’s toes. However, you can always invest in your own professional development outside of traditional work hours. This can include anything from going to industry organization seminars to furthering your education, as long as it is on your own time.
By broadening your horizons on your own, you can improve your skills and expand your experience based on your preferences. Then, as you complete your coursework, you can use your additional credentials to help support your case or locate a new position that aligns with your goals better.
If you are interested in securing a new job, the professionals at Bayside Solutions can assist you as you seek out new opportunities. Contact us today to learn more about what we have to offer and to see how our services can benefit you.
