Here is some good career advice for anyone.

I forget where I originally heard this, but it makes sense.

As an employee you are often found in the situation where a problem arises and you must report it to your superior. All managers want to know right away when there is a problem so they are not caught off guard and can be proactive in heading off any other problems that may arise as a result.

Every employee has to report these problems at one time or another; some more often than others. Some employees are bringing problems so often their superior may want to turn the other way when they see you coming down the hall.

If you are the person who instead brings solutions to the very problem you are bringing to your superior, they are bound to notice; especially if they are good ideas.

Look at it from your superior’s point of view. They are no doubt putting out fires all day. They have any number of people they are managing that come to them with problems every day. They have personnel, marketing, accounting, technology, and any other number of things that come up throughout the day. These problems may range from serious to immature. The last thing they want is someone coming to them with another problem.

Every superior is looking for their employees to take a sense of ownership in what they are doing. This is your first step in doing so.

So take some initiative. Show that you understand you are part of the team and willing to make the tough decisions. Your superior will thank you and who knows how it will pay off in the future.