3 Times You Should Take Charge at Work - The Muse

3 Times You Should Take Charge at Work - The Muse3 Times You Should Take Charge at WorkWe all know our place in the office- manager, employee, office dog (OK, the last one is wishful thinking that we have dog readers). And while some lines arent meant to be crossed, others get blurred when teams are shaken up, priorities are shifted, bosses go on vacations, and people quit before their replacement arrives.So, when an opportunity opens up to take charge, it can be pretty damn tempting to step up and show off our leadership capabilities.But how can we put ourselves in a position of power without overstepping our boundaries (or worse, pissing people off)?Here are three times its completely OK to take control at work- no matter your role (oh, and how to do it right)1. When Youve Been Given PermissionPretty obvious, but still worth mentioning. When youre made the point-person for a project, thats your cue to take charge, make aya things are running smoothly, and keep tabs on your teams pr ogress. Because if things dont go well, its ultimately your head thats on the block.However, this isnt permission to boss your teammates around- that wont help anyone be more productive (and it sure wont make people like you more). Rather, make sure everyone has the resources and support they need to get stuff done on time and in good fashion.2. When a Key Players Missing (and No One Else Can Do the Job)Maybe one of your higher-up colleagues caught a cold and youre the next person most involved in your teams initiative. Or, your boss is out on vacation for the week and no one else can step up to take on their responsibilities.This is your chance to show your leadership potential without stepping on other peoples toes. While the persons gone, keep the momentum going and carry out their vision. Just musiknote This is not your opportunity to run with your own ideas- instead, use this time to show your manager you respect their decisions and can hold down the fort when theyre not there. When they come back, they may take charge again (as they should), but theyll (hopefully) recognize the work youve contributed and give you more opportunities to lead in the future.3. When the Other Persons Flaky (and Its Your Reputation on the Line)This is a bit trickier to navigate, as its not your job to take on someone elses work, and doing so can ruin your relationship with the person.However, there are times when theres a big deadline looming and your reputations on the line, and the other person just isnt pulling their weight, so you decide to do it all on your own.When this is truly your only option- youve sent them many follow-ups, looped them in on your decisions, and have little time left to get it done- the best thing to do is (kindly) let the person know why you decided to take it over. It could be as simple as saying, You did great work on this, but the client wanted it finalized by this week, and as I know youve been swamped with other projects I thought it would be b est if I just finished the pitch myself.If youre honest about your intentions (a.k.a., you didnt do it just to get on your boss good side) and respect and acknowledge the work theyve contributed, theyll probably be grateful you stepped in. And if theyre not so happy you took over, you can at least go home feeling confident you did everything you could to salvage you (and your co-workers) job. Even if its not in your job description to be the person in charge, there are times when its in your best interest (and others) to do so. As long as you approach the opportunity as any respectable leader would- without ego and with a desire to help everyone succeed- youre sure to handle it like a champion, and open more doors for yourself.