Initiative & Self-Direction

Initiative & Self-Direction

by Dushunna Scott

​Know Your Spark

​What causes us to act and what prevents us from taking action? Knowing the answers can trigger action and help us take initiative. Read the following scenario and rewrite it in terms of your own career path. Think about what the problem is and describe your workplace and personnel.

​Scenario

​You are new to a job (name your position), but a special project (define the project) has come up that requires all workers to work longer hours and to be extremely productive. Your supervisor/manager/boss has noticed that some workers are not contributing as much as they should.

Open Ended

1. What can you do to show initiative? (identify your goals/ideas) Remember: Goals and ideas without motivation do not produce initiative. Initiative is action. Initiative is implementation. Initiative is leadership.

Open Ended

2. What is your motivation? (identify what makes you act) Remember: This is your spark, your drive. Some of it comes naturally, some of it is learned, but like a muscle, it needs to exercise to grow stronger.

Open Ended

3. What is your action plan and your end goal? (identify the steps you need to take to accomplish your goals) Remember: You must benefit somehow, but it's helpful if the plan benefits others as well. Dream big but be willing to make adjustments.

Open Ended

4. Do you need approval for your plan? If so, who can provide this approval and potential support? Remember: Some action plans require approval and support and without it, action might stop before it starts. If you need others on your side, how will you convince them?

Open Ended

5. This is a personal question: What stops you from acting on your ideas? Remember: Fear, contentment with the status quo, over-planning, waiting for the right moment, indecision, self-doubt, distraction and other things can deter you from acting.

Open Ended

6. How do you overcome your doubts and hesitation to act? Remember: The greatest intellects, leaders, and inventors in the world have all failed and learned from their mistakes.

Open Ended

7. If money (e.g., salary, bonus, reward) is not a primary incentive to trigger your creative motivation and ambition, what other things might your work offer that would incentivize you to become more productive and innovative? Remember: You may need to look at Google or other progressive companies to see how they incentivize thinking and productivity.