As there will always be those in life who are leaders, so there will also be those who follow. For some, being a follower works just fine and they have no great aspiration for things to be any different. Others though, are not so keen on being part of the herd. They want to be up there at the front, forging the way ahead, and that involves showing initiative.
When employers talk about wanting to hire somebody who will work on their own initiative, this is often interpreted solely as meaning that the ideal candidate will be somebody who does not look constantly to their manager for direction; somebody who, within the confines of their role, will just get on and do without having to be overseen. The kind of initiative that singles out a potential leader, however, goes deeper and broader than this, and in many ways it correlates with something that I have discussed here before, the act of holding oneself truly accountable.
When you settle in to your day’s work, do you limit yourself to thinking only about those tasks which are outlined in your role description, or do you take the initiative and look beyond these, towards ways in which systems or processes could be improved or simplified or made less costly? When bosses or colleagues are looking for somebody to take on those really tough projects, do you ever put yourself out there and volunteer for them, even if they are not part of your normal duties? And what about those times when your colleagues or co-workers are struggling and need a hand? Do you ever step up and offer your support?
Really taking the initiative in a way which makes you stand out from the crowd is about being proactive, being the first and offering to take full ownership and responsibility for seeing things through to their conclusion. It is about setting an example and truly picking up the stick and running with it. It is about coming up with fresh new ideas which bring about positive change. It is about taking charge of your own personal growth and really making things happen.
If you don’t want to be one of the sheep, then think about initiative in its wider context and look for opportunities to act and take charge before others do.
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