Take Initiative, It Will Pay Off In The End

By Coach Carmen Duncan

Taking initiative is one of the top 5 skill sets I look for in the people seeking to work with Mission Accomplished Transition Services. When people take initiative it demonstrates they move with intention and commitment to their personal growth while helping those around them. Team members who think proactively to solve problems, create opportunities and find answers for themselves allow the full team to think and act 3 steps ahead while minimizing the need for leadership to micromanage.

Taking initiative demonstrates you take responsibility for the tasks you are responsible for, have a knack for taking action and are committed to taking ownership of your role!

1. Use YouTube: We are fortunate enough to have access to an online platform where people from all over the world share their expertise. When you DO NOT know how to get something done, I encourage you to go to YouTube and type in how do I…… and I am certain you will gain access to videos that give you all or some of the answers you’re looking for. Once you’ve taught yourself a new skill and information, no one can take this from you!

2. Research: If you’re new within a company, you complete your tasks, take the initiative to research 3 industry counterparts (aka competitors) then follow them on social media. The more you know about your industry and demonstrate you know what’s transpiring in the industry the more of an asset you become while positioning yourself for growth. Get intimately familiar with the information that helps you while helping your team and company. Remember, this process MUST benefit YOU too!

3. Create Instructional Documents: If you’ve been with a company for a while and you notice there’s limited written documents laying out the process of how to achieve certain tasks, consider offering to develop an instructional manual or handbook for team members to use. In most workplaces,this will show you are seeking to help the company and team become more productive. Once you’ve completed the document, this is a project you can place on your resume and talk about during future interviews, panel discussions and more.