Taking The Initiative
Our basic nature is to act, and not be acted upon. As well as enabling us to choose our response to particular circumstances, this empowers us to create circumstances. Taking initiative does not mean being pushy, obnoxious, or aggressive. It does mean recognising our responsibility to make things happen. Over the years, people have been counseled for better jobs to show more initiative - to take interest and aptitude tests, to study the industry, even the specific problems the organisation they arre interested in are facing, and then to develop and effective presentation showing how their abilities can help solve the organisation's problem. It's called "solution selling", and is a key paradigm in business success. The response is usually agreement - most people can see how powerfully such an approach would effect their opportunities for employment or advancement. But many of them fail to take the necessary steps, the initiative, to make it happen. " I do...