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Taking Initiative Part 2

AGENDA MAIN POINTS COVERED Review Taking Initiative 9 Ways to Take Initiative Display Understanding of Ways to Take Initiative Proactive vs Reactive Proactive vs Reactive Scenarios

LET S REVIEW WHAT IS TAKING INITIATIVE Initiative is the ability to take charge It s taking action being proactive Doing things without being told Taking advantage of new opportunities

Now that we can identify taking initiative let s look at how we can take initiative in our own lives

9 WAYS TO TAKE INITIATIVE Be Proactive Example Your boss is out sick and you find tasks to progress the current project without being told Find Opportunities for Improvement Example You use feedback from clients on weak points in the company to advocate for positive change Voice your Ideas Example Expressing your opinion can help establish your voice within the company and build your reputation

9 WAYS TO TAKE INITIATIVE Be Decisive Example Come up with a few solutions to a problem weigh the pros and cons and choose what course of action will work best Address Prevent Problems Example When confronted with an issue ask yourself questions to find the root cause of the problem Improve Systems Example If you notice that a policy is outdated a great way to take initiative is to review it and make suggestions

9 WAYS TO TAKE INITIATIVE Be Prepared for Meetings Example If you present an idea at a meeting you can do your research ahead of time on cost risk and impact analysis Anticipate Questions Prepare Answers Example You can show initiative in the way you react to situations by being prepared to answer questions Set Realistic Standards Example You can set achievable standards by only taking on tasks that you have the time energy and resources to contribute

Now let s see taking initiative in action Read the situations and determine which of the 9 ways to take initiative is being displayed

SCENARIO YOU INTERACT WITH THE PUBLIC AND GET CONSISTENT FEEDBACK FROM CLIENTS SO YOU LOOK FOR PATTERNS IN ISSUES CLIENTS ENCOUNTER YOU THEN SUGGEST SENDING OUT A SURVEY TO GAUGE PUBLIC OPINION AND GATHER MORE DATA WITH THAT DATA YOU WILL FIND AREAS IN WHICH THE COMPANY CAN IMPROVE WHICH OF THE FOLLOWING 9 WAYS TO TAKE INITIATIVE DO YOU THINK IT IS A Be Decisive B Be Prepared for Meetings C Find Opportunities for Improvement D Voice your Ideas

The answer is Finding Opportunities for Improvement

SCENARIO YOUR TEAM RECENTLY MISSED A DEADLINE ON A PROJECT YOU ARE ASKED TO MEET WITH YOUR SUPERVISOR FOR A PERFORMANCE ASSESSMENT YOU ARRIVE AT YOUR MEETING ANTICPIPATING QUESTIONS ABOUT WHERE ISSUES OCCURRED WHILE CREATING ANSWERS WITH ACTIONABLE WAYS TO AVOID THESE ISSUES IN THE FUTURE YOU SHOW THAT YOU RE WILLING TO TAKE THE INITIATIVE TO MEET CHALLENGES AND WORK TO PREVENT THEM WHICH OF THE FOLLOWING 9 WAYS TO TAKE INITIATIVE DO YOU THINK IT IS A Anticipate Questions and Prepare answers B Be Prepared for Meetings C Find Opportunities for Improvement D Set Realistic Standards

The answer is Anticipate Questions and Prepare Answers

SCENARIO YOU HELP A COLLEAGUE BRAINSTORM HOW TO IMPROVE A POLICY BUT ALLOW THAT COLLEAGUE TO DRAFT AND IMPLEMENT THE UPDATED POLICY ON THEIR OWN YOU HAVE AN IDEA FOR IMPROVEMENT BUT DON T HAVE THE TIME TO LEAD THE INITIATIVE INSTEAD YOU PRESENT YOUR IDEA TO YOUR TEAM TO SEE IF ANOTHER TEAM MEMBER CAN VOLUNTEER TO WORK ON IT WHICH OF THE FOLLOWING 9 WAYS TO TAKE INITIATIVE DO YOU THINK IT IS A Address and Prevent Problems B Set Realistic Standards C Improve Systems Policies and Procedures D Voice your Ideas

The answer is Set Realistic Standards

Proactive vs Reactive Which of the two is better when taking initiative

PROACTIVE A proactive leader anticipates challenges and has a plan for handling them REACTIVE A reactive leader waits for challenges to arise and then struggles to overcome them EXAMPLE The holiday season is coming up so the manager begins hiring more staff a month before things get busy When the holiday season hits there is enough employees to help every customer EXAMPLE It is a Saturday night and the manager did not schedule enough people to work which leaves the place understaffed and customers unhappy The manager now has to pick up the slack

Learning from Failure Proactive vs Reactive Leadership

WRAPPING UP REVIEW Initiative is taking charge and being proactive 9 WAYS TO TAKE INITIATIVE There are 9 ways in which you can take and show initiative in work INITIATIVE IN PRACTICE How does taking initiative look in a real life setting PROACTIVE VS REACTIVE Being a proactive leader has more benefits than being reactive

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