Initiative

Anonymous

July 1,2022 at 12:56AM UTC

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Initiative

During the last job I had, one area for improvement my boss has for me was learning to take the initiative. At the time, I wasn't sure what that meant. I'm still not completely sure. I'm not a competitive person. I like to collaborate and help others and care more about team excellence than my personal come up. He also told me I was too honest because I pretty much say when I did something wrong or tell on myself and don't try to spin it in my favor. I guess spin would be smart, but I just figure if there's consequences, there's just consequences and I'd rather be myself than keep up a facade that I can't maintain. Don't know what to do about these two pieces of feedback. Do any of you all understand how to take initiative and how to be less honest?

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AnonymousJuly 1,2022 at 3:22AM UTC
Not less honest but you don't have dig yourself a hole every time you think you made a mistake. No one wants to hear "I'm sorry " all the time.
As for initiative, it doesn't mean you're self-serving or too competitive. Initiative means you don't wait for people to tell you what to do, or how to improve things. Initiative means being proactive and figuring out ways to get a project off the ground or an idea heard or finding out ways to support the team before anyone asks you too.
Initiative is figuring out stuff before it become obvious that it doesn't work 100%
Initiative comes naturally when you are truly invested in the success of something and you want to help it succeed. You don't want for anyone to ask you to help out or figure things out or to contribute at a higher level. You Initiate things on your own.
Barbara WhiteJuly 1,2022 at 1:28PM UTC
I agree with your definition of initiative. That's how I would describe it too. Try to solve problems without waiting to be asked to do it is an example.
Paulla Fetzek, MSEdJuly 1,2022 at 1:47PM UTC
Hello!
Initiative - for me - means taking the reigns on things that need to be done. For example, if you know there's a report that has to be created, and you at least know the basic details of it - why not try and put something together? It may not be what's needed, but people will appreciate that you tried. And it shows you have the willingness and skill-set to do so.
As for being "too honest" - HOLY WOW do I disagree here. Why in the name of all that's Holy would someone tell you to be less honest?
Mind you, there's a difference between being dishonest and CYH (Covering Yer Hiney). I commend and appreciate you for your honesty. But this doesn't mean you should take blame when you're not at fault!
I've made a HOST of mistakes throughout my 30+ year career. Including at my current job (over 19 here now). I have always owned up to every one of them. I've also always provided a way that I can fix the mistake, or detail how I've already fixed it.
However, if the mistake isn't mine specific, I have no issue explaining where the issue lies. I'm not a tattle-tale, but I also don't believe in taking a bullet when I don't have to. And if I know outright someone else caused the issue, I absolutely will say so. Not in a snarky-blaming way because that's uncalled for. I'll simply state how this person did or didn't do something that caused a problem by the time I was brought into the situation.
AnonymousJuly 2,2022 at 5:36AM UTC
Your example is so helpful...."Initiative - for me - means taking the reigns on things that need to be done.
For example, if you know there's a report that has to be created, and you at least know the basic details of it - why not try and put something together? It may not be what's needed, but people will appreciate that you tried. And it shows you have the willingness and skill-set to do so."
So learning to anticipate needs...and communicate how I plan to contribute
AnonymousJuly 1,2022 at 5:12PM UTC
Initiative means not being passive. It means you need to Initiate more all by yourself and not wait for direction from others. It's the opposite of hand holding.
Alexis GladstoneJuly 4,2022 at 1:19PM UTC
I love what others have already shared about initiative. I have another idea of how you can demonstrate it, especially since you are team focused.
When there is a a project a team is working on, go into the meetings having jump-started some of the work. For instance, you might go in with an outline of what you think needs to get done, or a timeline. Use it as a place to start the conversation rather than "this is how it will be."
When it comes to being too honest, I agree with Paula. That's not a fault, it's how you use it to learn and grow. So if it is something you feel needs to be shared (and not all mistakes need to be shared, especially if you remedied the situation) talk about what you learned and how you are going to make sure it doesn't happen again.
AnonymousJuly 11,2022 at 12:38PM UTC
Hi there. I struggle when oddities like this when they come up. You, like me, are team centric. Which is good. The reasons I call taking initiative an oddity is as of late I find the use of words like that to mean something else. If one is already team focused, the initiative is there. For me, I would ask for clarity and specifics or examples for this extra desired initiative. Know more before you commit yourself to something only your boss agreed to or understands.
Beth DaniellJuly 11,2022 at 1:12PM UTC
I will add one thing to the great conversation here about "being honest". Talk about how you fixed it and how you plan to avoid it in the future. This can double as being seen as "taking initiative". If you show proactive steps that you can take to avoid and stop mistakes like the ones you made in their tracks, it hits differently than if someone always points out a mistake and then you take responsibility once they've seen it.
I strongly agree with the person who said "No one wants to hear I'm Sorry all the time." Maybe its also about learning the difference in this context of "I made a mistake" vs "I tried something and it didn't work the way I thought it would" which are two great, related, but different modes.
AnonymousJuly 13,2022 at 12:26PM UTC
Two things to add: I actually think this feedback is incredibly actionable! If you need to take more initiative, next time you identify a problem, come up with a solution and take steps to make it right. Tell your boss what you saw and did.
Same goes for the being honest about mistakes. Instead of saying, "I missed sending that email on Friday. Sorry." Say, "I missed sending that email. Here are 3 steps I'm taking to make sure it doesn't happen again." Or even better, "I took these steps and that problem can't happen again." Changing how you own a mistake will also help with showing initiative.
Feedback, especially when actually actionable, is a gift.
TheodoraJuly 14,2022 at 6:12PM UTC
Initiative in my industry (manufacturing goods) means going comp shopping on both non-work and work hours, look for upcoming trends to help grow the business, attend webinars that pertain to your industry to gain knowledge of areas of the business you don’t necessarily deal with but keep you relevant.
”Less honest” is a term I wouldn’t have used. Most comments touch on the crux of this that it basically hurts your image if you’re constantly apologizing. Make an action plan on fixing the issue and move on.
Good luck!