“Take initiative! But don't make decisions on your own?” What to do when you're confused by contradictory advice
Hello, this is R.
This weekend's chill column has gone past Friday and into Saturday.
Today, I want to write about something I feel when training young employees.
I work as a training instructor and career consultant.
Through corporate human resource development and career support at universities, I often interact with young people and students.
In those situations, there are times when I think, "That must be confusing," regarding things that supervisors or university advisors say.
For example, new employees are told,
"Don't just wait for instructions, take initiative!" but are also told,
"Don't make decisions on your own."
Students are told,
"Think for yourself instead of asking about everything!" but are also told,
"You need to consult with those around you more and communicate."
Contradictory messages... it's confusing, isn't it?
Which one is correct?
Both are correct.
The point is that balance is what's important.
I believe that strengths and weaknesses are two sides of the same coin.
Trying to make decisions on your own can manifest as the strength of responsibility, or it can become a weakness where you take on too much and cause stagnation.
Being able to rely on others can manifest as the strength of being able to self-disclose, or conversely, it can become the weakness of being passive and lacking initiative.
Those who train others, and even we ourselves, often focus on weaknesses.
But what kind of adjustments can we add to maintain balance so that these traits can be expressed as strengths?
For example, someone who asks for advice too much can turn that into initiative just by adding the adjustment of "going to them after having a hypothesis of my own."
I think it's important to think in that way.
I want to approach development with that perspective, thinking about what I can add to help them.
👉 Click here for other chill column articles
#HumanResourceDevelopment #Communication #PowerOfWords #Relationships #WorkStyle #WorkWorries #Career #BusinessSkills #SelfGrowth #Essay