Initiative
Recognizing And Doing What Needs To
Be Done, Before I Am Asked
Initiative Vs. Idleness
 The
future belongs to
people who see
possibilities before they
become obvious."
(Ted Levitt)

Initiative can be one of the most
rewarding character traits. As a
leader, properly trained and
focused individuals who take the
initiative are prized employees.
Because they see the need and
act on it to achieve the mission,
they can be force-multipliers.
Because they take the initiative
and help achieve the mission,
they quickly become recognized
(rewarded) for ability and
leadership.
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Initiative, while rewarding, can
also have its difficult moments.
There are times when seizing the
initiative can be damaging to the
mission. There are times when
taking the initiative results in
pain, not rewards. Taking the
initiative means taking a risk.
Well-trained and focused
individuals minimize this risk. So
learn the mission, learn and
practice your technical,
managerial and ethical skills.
When the moment arrives –
carpe diem – seize the day!
On the Job
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Learn all you can about the mission of
your organization.
Hone your technical, managerial and
ethical skills – seek out the training you
need, take advantage of all the training
offered.
Keep your eyes and ears open and look
for opportunities to make thing better.
More on the Job
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When you find an opportunity to improve things,
use all your training and the tools you have and,
as Gen Powell said – do something!
Practice making things better without being
asked – do little things first. Start at home with
your family. Make dinner if that’s not something
you normally do. If you drive, offer to take
friend someplace you know they need to go –
before they ask. If you attend a religious
institution, offer to lead a project, teach a class,
or help with services.
At Home
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Before your spouse asks you to do
something, see the need and accomplish it
before they ask.
Before your children ask if you want to
see their picture that they drew, go to
them and ask to see the beautiful picture
that they are drawing.
See the need of the family and meet it
before it becomes an issue.
Train the staff
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1) Make sure you teach the staff your
goals. This gives them a vision of what
you are doing in the long run. They will
gain initiative to fulfill your goal if you let
them see your vision
2) Reward your staff for the character that
they show in trying to do things before
they are asked to do them.
Train the children
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Teach the children to do things before
they are asked. They are rewarded for
cleaning their room before they are asked
not after.
When they help someone in need before
they are asked (widow, elderly, etc…) this
is a big reward, taking the initiative to
help people without being asked.
In your life
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Serve people that are in need.
Give food to someone in need before they
have to ask for it.
Give a compliment right when you see the
person do the deed.
Pay your bills before you get a late notice.
Give people their roses before they die.

A young man lived in a old residential
neighborhood. There was an older
lady that lived down the road from
him that smiled at him when ever he
passed by on his bike. When the
snow would fall he would get up and
shovel her drive before she went out
to get the paper. She watched him
every day take care of her yard
without even asking.

One morning he went to rake her
leaves out of her yard and noticed
that she was not up yet. When he
was done, he knocked on the door
to see if she was all right. He went
in to find that she had a heart
attack in the middle of the night.
When the family was called, they
said they couldn’t come. The
young man was devastated to
think that the family would not
show up.
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Weeks had passed and the boy
got a phone call from an attorney
who was in charge of the estate
of the older woman. He told the
boy that the older woman had
given him her estate and all that
was in it. He let the boy know
that he was now a millionaire
and needed his parents to sign
some forms for him.

This story goes on to find a young
man that invested millions to help
older women. He, when he was
young, took the initiative to help
someone before they even asked.
He was rewarded for his character
not for his deeds. The woman
never let the boy know because
he was never doing it for the
money, he did it because he was a
young man of character.
Group
 What
can you do today for
someone that would help
them before being asked to
do it.
 Write
a list and then find out
the results from each other.