Mastering Responsibility Skills: Definitions, Examples, and Tips

All work roles involve some level of responsibility, even if it's just completing the basic duties that your employer expects of you. The capacity to demonstrate responsibility can often be a key component in growing professionally. Knowing more about responsibility and its key skills can be important for your career path. In this article, we learn what responsibility skills are, give examples, discuss how to improve them, look at using them in the workplace and explore a few tips for highlighting these skills.

What are responsibility skills?

Responsibility skills are your ability to take ownership of what you do in the workplace. Your employer may often assign you duties in your work. These duties are your responsibilities, but responsibility abilities go one step beyond this. These are your capacity to self-direct, set your own targets and objectives and critically assess your performance. They may also relate to your willingness to take on additional duties. Demonstrating your responsibility to your employer can be a good way to show you're ready to advance in your career.

Related: What does taking responsibility at work mean? Plus benefits

Examples of responsibility-related skills

Here are a few examples of some key skills related to responsibility:

1. Problem-solving

Taking responsibility in your work often involves approaching management and colleagues with solutions when you encounter challenges rather than simply identifying problems. This capacity and willingness to problem solve shows you take ownership of your work. It also shows you can go beyond your basic duties, voluntarily taking on extra work if necessary to resolve a problem. Any instances where you go beyond basic expectations in work and take ownership of things are a key indicator of responsibility.

Related: Problem-solving skills: definitions and examples

2. Flexibility and prioritisation

Increased responsibility can often mean increased work. Properly managing and prioritising this higher workload is key to showing your capacity to accept responsibility. Flexibility in how you approach work can also be important, as priorities can change and accepting responsibility means it's down to you to make sure you deliver what's needed.

3. Leadership

There's a close link between responsibility and leadership. Any person in a leadership role generally accepts responsibility for the team they lead. Management sees those demonstrating a capacity for taking responsibility as potential leaders. The ability to direct and coordinate colleagues, even informally as part of a group dynamic, is often a key skill in accepting responsibility at work. Leadership qualities can show you're ready to progress in your career and take on more senior responsibilities.

Related: What does leadership mean? (Plus benefits and skills)

4. Presentation and public speaking

Responsibility involves taking ownership of the workload you have personally and that of any team you're on. Management and other stakeholders may require you to present details of your, or your team's, work. Skills in presentation and public speaking can often be valuable when accepting greater responsibility at work.

5. Being goal-oriented

Goals are clear objectives or desired outcomes you and your team can work towards. Being goal-oriented in your work demonstrates responsibility and accountability as you make solid promises on performance. This allows you to take the proper credit for your successes. You also show maturity and professionalism to be the responsible party if you or your team don't meet objectives.

Related: What is goal-setting theory? (With steps and principles)

6. Self-motivated learning

Responsibility can often involve a desire to grow and improve. Any time you take it upon yourself to develop personally or professionally, you demonstrate responsibility. Skills in self-motivated learning, or auditing yourself and learning from your mistakes, are key skills related to responsibility.

How to improve responsibility-related skills

Here are a few steps you may wish to follow to improve your skills in responsibility:

1. Learn new skills

Developing your skills can show employers you're ready to take on greater responsibility. Capitalise on any opportunities to work on projects that allow you to develop new skills and learn from colleagues. Take advantage of any training seminars, workshops or other resources your organisation may offer. Consider talking to human resources about available training opportunities. Also, look for training resources outside of work, especially any that can provide you with industry-recognised accreditation for specific competencies.

Related: How to quickly learn new skills: a guide with 9 tips

2. Assist colleagues

Helping colleagues is a simple but effective way to challenge yourself and develop your skills in responsibility. It can demonstrate compassion towards colleagues who may be struggling with their workload. This may also show to employers you're a team player willing to accept additional responsibilities for the good of your team. Working with other colleagues on their duties can also help build your skill set and prime you to take on more diverse responsibilities.

3. Coordinate social events at work

There are ways to take on more responsibilities at work and develop your skills beyond expanding your actual work duties. Organising social events at work or joining organisational committees can be a good way to develop your skills in responsibility. These are good ways to collaborate with others, demonstrate your skills and show you're ready to expand your responsibilities. The skills required for taking responsibility and organising social events are strongly transferrable to work-related organisation skills.

Related: 7 tips to improve your organising and planning skills

4. Commit to surpassing expectations at work

Typically, work roles have expectations of what you're to deliver. You may take these duties as your baseline responsibilities. Growing your capacity to be skilful and responsible typically involves working beyond these basic expectations. Look to innovate ways to complete tasks well ahead of deadlines. Present new ideas for processes and procedures to your managers and take personal responsibility for continually looking for ways to add value to your work.

5. Talk to your manager

You generally grow your responsibility at work by taking on greater duties. Speak with your manager to let them know you are ready and willing to take on increased responsibilities. Just taking this basic step shows them you have initiative and a desire to progress. If you can also present ideas for how you can expand your role and what additional duties you can absorb, this can further demonstrate your capacity for responsibility.

Related: 10 one-on-one meeting tips for meeting with your manager

Responsibility in the workplace

Here are a few tips for showing responsibility and using these skills in the workplace:

• Volunteer yourself for opportunities. Volunteering can allow you to develop and demonstrate your ability to handle responsibility, even if it's not possible to expand your current work duties. Look for volunteering opportunities that directly relate to your career aims, either within your organisation or externally.

• Take the initiative. You can't always wait for opportunities for growth to present themselves and may instead wish to create those opportunities for yourself. Have a thorough plan to show your employer how you can expand your responsibilities, including why you're qualified to do so and how you can effectively manage the increased workload.

• Get your timing right. There are times when it may or may not be appropriate to expand your duties, so be mindful of this when looking to change your responsibilities in the workplace. For example, performance reviews are a good chance to demonstrate your capacity to grow beyond your current responsibilities.

How to highlight your skills in responsibility

Here are a few tips for presenting and highlighting your skills in different situations:

Responsibility skills for a CV and cover letter

Your CV and cover letter are often your first chance to show your skills to a potential employer. Research the responsibility-related skills most applicable to the role that the employer values most. Reviewing the job advertisement and job description can help you identify these skills. Consider also using similar language to the language used by the employer on your CV when detailing your skills. Use your job history to describe how you have practically used these skills and reinforce the most important ones by summarising your key experience on your cover letter.

Related: CV vs. cover letter: what's the difference between the two?

Responsibility skills for a job interview

Practical examples of how you've taken on responsibilities and used your skills are valuable in job interviews. Any examples where you can show how your responsibilities directly added value to the organisation or helped your team overcome a specific challenge are the best to use. Think about the examples you can use and how you may present them as you prepare for your interview, but don't memorise an answer. Natural, conversational responses to an interviewer's queries are often better received than a rehearsed answer.