INITIATIVE

Initiative -- Actively attempting to influence events to achieve goals; self-starting rather than passive acceptance. Taking action beyond what is necessarily called for in order to achieve goals; originating action.

Most jobs require people who will take actions beyond their job responsibilities. The person high in Initiative will originate actions rather than respond to the requests of others.

Most people control their own and others' resources, activities, and time. It's impossible for management to specify all that needs to be done to achieve the job's goals. Thus, people must continually evaluate, select, and act in different ways to meet their goals.

Key Behaviors:

• Seeks solutions to problems actively before being asked or told to do so.

• Encourages the attitudes, conditions, and environment that bring about improved performance.

• Suggests and uses procedures to prevent and/or solve problems.

• Generates new ideas to improve conditions.

• Takes actions to achieve results.

• Takes action beyond job's responsibilities.

• Suggests improvements.

• Looks for challenging tasks and assignments.

• Volunteers to work on difficult problems.

Key Words -- suggestions, ideas, took action, recommended, anticipated needs, proactive, new, unique, different

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