What Does It Mean To Take Initiative At Work?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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When you show initiative, you do things without being told; you find out what you need to know; you keep going when things get tough; and you spot and take advantage of opportunities that others pass by.

You act

, instead of reacting, at work. Most of us have seen initiative in action.

What is initiative in the workplace?

What is workplace initiative? Workplace initiative is

the ability to independently assess issues and initiate solutions

. Workplace initiative includes a mix of skills that can help you both come up with new approaches to workplace problems and communicate them to other employees and management.

How Do You Take Initiative at Work?

  1. Be proactive. …
  2. Find opportunities for improvement. …
  3. Voice your ideas. …
  4. Be decisive. …
  5. Improve systems, procedures and policies. …
  6. Address and prevent problems. …
  7. Be prepared for meetings. …
  8. Anticipate questions and prepare answers.

How do you show initiative at work examples?

  1. Never Stand Still. …
  2. Do More Than is Required Of You. …
  3. Think as a Team Member, Not An Employee. …
  4. Speak Up And Share Your Ideas. …
  5. Fake It Till You Make It. …
  6. Consider Every Opportunity. …
  7. Always Be Prepared. …
  8. Be Self-Promotional.

What are examples of initiative?

  • Innovative thinking.
  • Problem-solving.
  • Entrepreneurism.
  • Creativity.
  • Leadership.
  • Confidence and the self-belief to try something new.
  • Being quick to learn.
  • How proactive you can be.

What is an example of a time you demonstrated initiative at work?

I remember some weeks when

I

worked for 90 hours… But I did this, because I was passionate about the work, and my family situation allowed me to stay long hours in the office. And we weren’t specially compensated for working overtime, so it was really my initiative.

Why is it important to Take Initiative at Work?

Taking initiative on certain projects establishes you as a valuable team member at work, and may lead to future success. By taking initiative in a job, it demonstrates

self-confidence and shows that you are willing to put in the hard work necessary to improve your professional life

or personal life.

How can I be proactive and take initiative at work?

  1. Try to take on different roles. …
  2. Ask for feedback and act on it. …
  3. Make an effort to listen to discussions around you. …
  4. Don’t underestimate the power of small-talk. …
  5. Foresee potential obstacles and bring them up to your teammates. …
  6. Don’t be shy to ask questions.

How do you describe someone who takes initiative?

A person with initiative is

motivated to do things

. If you take the initiative, you’re willing to get things done on your own. Taking initiative can be risky: If you do something on your own initiative, then there’s nobody you can blame if it goes wrong.

How do you tell someone to take initiative?

  1. Ask question.
  2. Listen.
  3. Ask more questions and reveal what’s at stake for them.
  4. Share what’s at stake for you.
  5. Ask for their commitment to a shared outcome.
  6. Negotiate.
  7. Check-in to confirm that they’re still committed.

How do you measure employee initiative?

  1. Stage 1: ‘Wait’
  2. Stage 2: ‘Ask’
  3. Stage 3: ‘Recommend’
  4. Stage 4: ‘Act Independently but Report Immediately’
  5. Stage 5: ‘Act Independently and Report Routinely’

Which of the following is an example of showing initiative?

The traditional example is

taking leadership of a group situation

: being the person who steps up to lead the team and knows how to get the most our of everybody else. This is an example of initiative, but if the idea of being a leader sends you weak at the knees, don’t worry, you’re not a hopeless case.

What is a strategic initiative example?

Examples of Strategic Initiatives


Raise brand awareness with a social-media campaign

.

Acquire or merge with a critical supplier of raw materials

.

Launch a strategy to reduce outsourcing

.

Open more customer-facing retail outlets

.

How do you describe initiative?

When you show initiative,

you do things without being told

; you find out what you need to know; you keep going when things get tough; and you spot and take advantage of opportunities that others pass by. You act, instead of reacting, at work. Most of us have seen initiative in action.

What it means to have initiative?

1 :

an introductory step took the initiative in attempting to settle

the issue. 2 : energy or aptitude displayed in initiation of action : enterprise showed great initiative. 3a : the right to initiate legislative action.

What is the word for taking initiative?


put forward

.

stand up

.

submit oneself

.

take bull

by the horns. take the plunge.

Rachel Ostrander
Author
Rachel Ostrander
Rachel is a career coach and HR consultant with over 5 years of experience working with job seekers and employers. She holds a degree in human resources management and has worked with leading companies such as Google and Amazon. Rachel is passionate about helping people find fulfilling careers and providing practical advice for navigating the job market.