Being Proactive, Taking the Initiative 1
(Monday)
Context:
Employers want employees who require very little supervision to get the job done.
Employers do not want to babysit or hold an employee's hand. They want employees who can figure out what needs to be done next to get the job or task done.
The first to go during any layoff, are employees who see what needs to be done but wait to be told to do it.
What it is: Being proactive refers to creating or controlling a situation yourself, rather than simply waiting to see what happens. Closely related to proactivity is taking initiative. Initiative has been defined as the ability to assess and initiate things independently, and act on a situation or take charge before others do.
In other words, both involve understanding or being aware that something needs to be done, and doing it without being asked or directed to do so.
Why it’s important: In the workplace, proactivity is highly valued by employers as it demonstrates leadership, problem-solving skills, and a willingness to take on new challenges. By being proactive, individuals can anticipate and address potential problems before they arise, leading to increased efficiency and productivity.
In today's workplace, taking the initiative has grown significantly in importance. Employers seek individuals who can think quickly, see what needs to be done, and take action without requiring constant guidance. This level of self-motivation and self-confidence is what drives teams and organizations to innovate and surpass their competition.
Primer Questions
If you see that something needs to be done around the house, do you wait to be told before you do it?
How often do you take the initiative to get your friends together for an outing or activity?
Do you find it just as easy to do something you don’t enjoy (cleaning your room for example), as you do something you do enjoy (going out to eat or the movies)?
Write down your answers and observations in your journal.
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Proactive workers are in high demand, and it’s easy to understand why. When it comes to creating positive change, these employees don’t need to be told to take initiative. Research confirms that, compared with their more passive counterparts, proactive people are better performers, contributors, and innovators.
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— “When to Take Initiative at Work, and When Not To” by Sharon K. Parker and Ying (Lena) Wang, Harvard Business Journal.
Why don’t we develop these traits in school?
Watch the video and pay attention to the reason why so many graduates enter the job market without the desire to be proactive or take the initiative. Then write about or discuss how the workplace will be different from school when it comes to expectations.
What Does Taking Initiative and Being Proactive Really Mean?
Initiative means to take action without specific instructions or directions from others, and to proactively act based on one's own findings.
Rather than waiting to be directed, individuals take the initiative to identify what needs to be done, and completes tasks independently. In the workplace, showing initiative could be demonstrated by completing a project or task without constant supervision or direction.
Being proactive involves actively creating or controlling a situation rather than passively waiting to react to it. Proactive individuals take charge and shape the circumstances rather than just responding to events after they have occurred.
A Word Of Caution
While it’s beneficial to develop the habit of being proactive and taking initiative, it’s wise to determine if moving ahead with what needs to be done is best for everyone.
For example, there might be a situation where the logical next step you can take could actually lead to complications for others. Let's say you come home and find that your father has been fixing the plumbing in the bathroom. He's not in the house, so you decide to take the initiative and clean up, putting away all his tools. However, you later discover that he went to the store to get a part he needed, and he was still working on the plumbing. Although you meant well, he now has to search for his tools again.
In the workplace, if you choose to take the initiative and be proactive, it's crucial to consider the following factors:
Ensure that your action is the right next step toward the ultimate goal.
Verify that it's the right time to take that next step.
Assess that the action won't cause more harm than good.
Confirm that your action is genuinely necessary for the situation.
If you pay attention to those four aspects, you won’t waste time, energy, or money on needed changes.
Metacognitive Goals
In Wednesday's lesson, we'll explore ways to become more proactive and develop a willingness to take the initiative. But until then, take note of whether or not you take the initiative around your home and in daily life.
When you see something that needs to be done, such as taking out the trash, washing dishes, or helping your parents with other tasks, do you feel the need to help out? If not, if you don't feel responsible for helping out, why?
Also, try to identify the times when you do take the initiative. Are you the one who gets a group together to go out? Are you the one who makes suggestions to your family regarding weekend activities? What’s the different between when you do or don’t take the initiative? Write your findings in your journal.
Thought of the day.
“When initiating a new idea, ask yourself if change is needed in the situation and, if so, what type of change is appropriate for that context. Avoid change for change’s sake. Think about how you can implement your ideas effectively given the goals of your organization.”
”When to Take Initiative at Work, and When Not To”, Harvard Business Journal