How to be more proactive at work?

[TheWildZebra]

Posting this because feeling a sense of shame/disappointment in myself for not being more proactive at work. By this I mean anticipating that things might need nudging along in different ways, finding different paths around problems to solutions, and taking initiative in terms of communicating with people.

i work in a tiny team with 2 other colleagues and they are so often just “on” it, or ahead of it. I feel like when I am working on something, things are slower and it takes me longer to figure a path to get something across the line. Often when I’m slower, i feel embarrassed and ashamed that they have to intervene (or choose to intervene) and then ask why haven’t I done a b or as alternative options. Honestly a lot of the time it just doesn’t come to me these ideas, and there is also this dull feeling of tiredness and being unable to think beyond the structure and system that I’m working within in the day to day.

does anyone have any advice on how to improve this? Or how to feel less suffocated when my colleagues come in and “clean up” while I’m part way through figuring something out?

Do you think maybe you are just not truly engaged with your work? Some of my best ideas for solving a work problem occur to me when I'm not working, because my brain is still sort of engaged with the issue, even outside work. Maybe you need to find an aspect of it that you like, or get some satisfaction from getting it done to help motivate you to bring things to a conclusion.

With regard to your co-workers coming up with solutions you hadn't thought of, if it's possible, could you build closer working relationships with them so you are able to send them a message along the lines of "trying to do xyz and it's not working, have any of you found a workaround?" That sort of relationship is always helpful and then it might make you feel more engaged with your work, because you and your colleagues have a feeling of "pulling on the same string", so to speak.

Just bumping to see if you can get some more responses @TheWildZebra

Why do you think it is? Do you enjoy your job? Are you fully engaged with it mentally or just trying to get through the day and home life/kids etc is more your priority mentally?

Some people are naturally quick-thinkers and very curious/creative and it might be that your colleagues are like this and you’re just not. Do you feel comfortable saying to them “I just need a bit more time to work things through then I might pick your brains afterwards” to stop them jumping in.

Do you work remotely? What about your colleagues? (Not just the rest of the team). A lot of that unspoken knowledge, pointers etc comes from being with people.

Good suggestions above. You might not have the same quick solution focus as them but you might have other strengths. Do you? I think it's very important to know yourself well and play to your strengths.

Something I have found helpful is journalling, to access your own inner solutions. Set a 15 minute timer and write (longhand, on paper, it helps you think) about why you find this difficult. Then read it back and see if any actions spring to mind. Do this for 5 days and you might have a bit more clarity on the issue.

Have your colleagues more experience than you? It could be they have been in these situations before so they know how to handle it. Perhaps consider working more collaboratively with your team, at team meetings having a discussion about what you are working on and ask for their input on how they would approach things. It would be better to lean on them more at the outset rather than struggle along and wait for them to step in to resolve issues.

Thank you all for your responses. :)

I actually love my work. I’m a researcher and in a field I really enjoy.

I work in the office but often my colleagues are remote which makes things a bit harder - though when they’re in I think things happen a bit more spontaneously. I would say that my colleagues are total overachievers- ask them to run a mile they’ll run 10 because it had a nice view at the end, that sort of thing.

Having had some time to think about it, I think some of it comes from being a in a precarious job where you’re hopping from fixed term contracts to the next, on low pay, and the investment of more time and energy to go above and beyond doesn’t pay off in terms of job security. Sure you get a good reputation in your work but you don’t get paid more or get another research grant.

so I think on reflection a lot of it comes down to lack of motivation within a broader broken working system, which my colleagues maybe think working more and going above and beyond translates into tangible deliverables. I think that passiveness is probably leaking into other things that are just part and parcel of the work.

but the other points you’ve all put forward including the idea of a diary and being more proactive with things in team meetings is something I’ll definitely take on board and think about how I can work into my day to day ❤️