August 6, 2008
Making Work "Work": Resources for Busy Professionals
Go ahead, make a suggestion!
At work initiative counts, and one way to show you’ve got it is to make sound, thoughtful suggestions. Don’t be afraid to make suggestions, because the truth is that employers want employee input.
Think about it. Work is generally a set of goals and the action it takes to get those goals accomplished. There will be problems along the way, guaranteed. Suggestions can help employers solve those problems more easily, more efficiently and more economically.
You have to offer your idea with sincerity, and that means making the suggestion because you truly believe in it - not using it merely as a vehicle to get ahead. Not that there’s anything wrong with getting ahead, but others can smell self-interest in a suggestion.
Try to keep your motivation as pure as possible. Here are a few tips from 1001 Ways to Take Initiative at Work, by Bob Nelson:
- Making a suggestion that relates to your area of expertise is a good idea. Why? Because it’s likely you know the area well, and therefore you’ll probably make a good decision. You’ll want to look for ways to save money, improve a service or streamline processes. Think about your ideas, and if possible, test them.
- If you’re going to make a suggestion, make sure you’ve also considered a way to implement it. According to Nelson, you need to be careful that your suggestion doesn’t inadvertently sound like a complaint. Think your plan through. Who would be involved? How much would it cost? What are the benefits? When the time is right, volunteer to help bring the idea to fruition.
- Develop yourself as a “suggestor.” Think about the possibilities and try to come up with at least two suggestions per week, even if you end up deciding not to pitch them. Carry a pad and pencil with you so you can jot down your thoughts. You’d be surprised at the number of great ideas people lose in the minutiae of the day because they don’t take the time to write them down.
- Be supportive of others’ suggestions when you think they’re good ideas. This will help you develop important alliances at work and secure the goodwill of your co-workers when you share suggestions.