June 2005
What is initiative? What tools can you share with your employees to help them show initiative?
Definition: Initiative, at its simplest, is taking action to get something done at work without
waiting for your boss to tell you what to do or when and how to do it.
Tools of Initiative include:
1. Taking a Self-Responsibility Attitude
Help employees learn that they may have one or more bosses but, ultimately, THEY ARE THE MASTER
OF THEIR OWN DESTINY. This means thinking of the company or organization where they work as
their own company. Success of the company is determined by their actions. The more
responsibility they take, the more personal success they will realize.
2. Thinking Outside The Box
Employees need to feel that their opinions are valued. They need to be given permission to
look for new combinations, and ask “what if” questions. They need to be asked to
brainstorming sessions and encouraged to consider new approaches and to champion new ideas.
3. Doing Their Homework
Employees need to be encouraged to research new ideas and solutions and come to meetings
with prepared ideas. Places where they might research include: newspapers, talking to
vendors, internet and talking to other employees.
4. Taking Action – Capitalizing on Opportunity
When employees say they will do something, they need to do it! Action shows that they
are taking initiative to accomplish something or make the workplace better.
5. Making Improvements
One of the easiest ways for employees to take initiative is to be on the lookout for
ways to improve work, processes, products, services and systems. They are the people
closest to the product or service and in the best position to know what needs to be
changed. Eliminate phrases like, “We do it this way because that is the way it has
always been done.”
6. Perseverance and Persistence
Encourage your employees to learn as much from things that don’t work as from things
that do work. In all situations, encourage and reward the effort to continually
improve the workplace.
Employees who take initiative are actively engaged in the success of the business
and will contribute to a more positive and productive workplace.
Working Solutions is a non-profit organization
providing employee training and leadership development services
for healthcare organizations, non-profits and corporations.
This retention tip is published monthly to provide tips,
strategies and new ideas for HR professionals, managers and executives
to help retain their employees.
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