Action of the one who is the first to propose and/or carry out something
“The initiative leader does not wait for others, he goes there and does what needs to be done”
Mauro Moraes
The leader with initiative creates an idea in his mind and doesn't stop until it turns into reality.
Leaders must always look for opportunities and be ready for action. The high-performing leader takes courageous steps today to reach his potential tomorrow.
The leader with initiative is always on the lookout for new opportunities, is willing to move forward based on his best instincts, and is always willing to take the initiative to do something meaningful in his life.
Learn about some characteristics of leaders with initiative (who make things happen):
- They know what they want, if you want to be an effective leader you must know what you want. This is the only way for you to recognize the opportunity when it arises.
"The starting point of any enterprise is desire"
Napoleon Hill
- They strive for action, those with initiative do not expect others to motivate them. They know it's their responsibility to push themselves beyond their comfortable limit. And they make it a regular practice.
"There is nothing brilliant or extraordinary in my story except perhaps one thing: I do what I believe must be done... When I decide to do something, I do it"
Theodore Roosevelt
- They take more risks, proactive people always take risks. However, one of the reasons good leaders are willing to take risks is that they recognize that there is also a price for lack of initiative.
"There are risks and costs to a program of action, but they are much smaller than the long-range risks and costs of comfortable inertia"
John F. Kennedy
- They make more mistakes, even though leaders with initiative experience more failures, they don't allow themselves to be discouraged. The greater the potential, the greater the possibility of failure. If you want to achieve great things as a leader, you must have initiative and be willing to take risks.
"The way to succeed is to double the average of failures."
Thomas J. Watson
- They don't procrastinate, understand that it's not possible to develop the habit of taking initiative while you keep putting off until tomorrow what you can do today. To stop procrastinating is to work your priorities so that you do what is important and necessary.
“Success seems to be linked to action. Successful people stay active. They make mistakes but they don't give up”
Conrad HHton, hotel executive
To improve his initiative, the leader must:
- Change your mindset, if you don't have the initiative, recognize that the problem is in you, not in others. Identify why you hesitate to act. Do the risks scare you? Are you discouraged by past failures? Don't you realize the potential opportunities offer? Find the source of your hesitation and try to resolve it. You cannot advance outwardly until you are able to do so inwardly.
- Practicing small initiatives, in almost all situations of our daily lives it is possible to exercise the initiative. From improving your work to helping an elderly person cross the street, you need to be alert and ready to put the initiative into practice.
“Of all the things a leader should fear, complacency is the one that should top the list”
John C. Maxwell
- Don't wait for the opportunity to knock on your door, you need to go out and look for it. Take stock of your strengths, talents and resources. By doing so you will get an idea of your potential. Now dedicate every day of a week looking for new opportunities. Where do you identify needs? Who is looking for the experience you have? What group of people haven't you reached out to that are looking forward to what you have to offer? Create your own opportunity.
- Taking the next step, it's one thing to see the opportunity, it's another to do something about it. Choose the best opportunity you can find and go as far as you can. Don't stop until you've done everything you can to make it a reality.
Being a leader with INITIATIVE will help you inspire your followers!
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Mauro Moraes is a Specialist in Personal Development and Leadership and columnist for Gente Mais Portal