Top people are much more likely to accept responsibility and take action when
they see something that needs to be done. They are more proactive than reactive.
They move quickly, usually without detailed discussion, analysis, or waiting to
get permission.
In one study, average managers who had been repeatedly passed over for
promotion were asked if they felt that they had the quality of initiative. These
managers all agreed that they had high levels of initiative and that they
demonstrated
it
in their work. The researchers then asked
them to define what the word initiative meant to them. The average managers
defined initiative as, "answering the phone when
it
rang, calling up someone to remind them of a meeting or a commitment or bringing
a piece of news or information to someone else’s attention."
The top performers, however, had a
completely different definition of the quality. They considered the activities
of the low performers to be merely part of the job. Top performers defined
taking initiative as doing something well above and beyond the call of duty. It
was taking risks, trying new things, moving out of the comfort zone, working
longer hours, and volunteering for tasks that the average person would not do.
It is the same with you. The more initiative you show, the more you will be
perceived as a valuable player in your organization. When you continually seek
out newer, faster, better, easier, more convenient ways to get the job done for
your firm and your clients, you very quickly come to the attention of the people
who can help you.
