The Power of Participation

Talking about the importance of something and taking action toward that goal are two very different things. While speaking up is incredibly valuable, it can only get you so far. You must become an active participant in shaping the future that you want, whether that is personally or professionally.

While doing the bare minimum technically does qualify as participation, it does not provide much value to you or the company. Instead of viewing your work simply as tasks to be checked off a list, you need to ask yourself why the work matters and what you aim to accomplish by doing it. When you understand the meaning of doing something, you are more likely to commit to it. You will also put in more effort to achieve the outcome that you are striving for.

Not everything will be in your control, but you can choose whether you will contribute to the process. If you want something to change, stop waiting for someone else to come in and fix everything. Take action, even if it is small, because you have no idea how big the impact can be. The avoidance of action does not mean the avoidance of consequences, nor does it mean that you did not add to those consequences. Inaction can be just as, if not more at times, detrimental to the outcome. 

If you want to grow within your role or beyond it, then you need to take initiative. Being an active participant in something means that you are engaging with, contributing to, and playing a part in the activity. It means you are putting forth genuine effort, asking questions, and sharing ideas. You are driving the work instead of allowing the work to drive you.

Never doubt the power of participation. In the words of Jane Goodall, “What you do makes a difference, and you have to decide what kind of difference you want to make.”

-Meghan Slaughter