How to Improve your Personal Initiative

How to Improve Your Personal Initiative

Personal initiative is the power to act on your own decisions, rather than waiting for someone else, or circumstances to force your hand.

You can improve your level of personal initiative by taking the following steps:

1. Note the benefits to be gained by acting on your own initiative.
2. If it's to be, it's up to me!
3. Trust your own judgement.
4. Don't wait for other people's permission or opinion.
5. Apply the DO IT NOW principle.

1. Note the benefits of acting on your own initiative.

There are three ways that you can gain an advantage:

1. You can wait for Lady Luck to give you the advantage,
2. You can wait for someone to offer you an advantage, as an act of kindness or charity.
3. You can create an advantage by acting on your personal initiative.

You may have to wait a long time for your luck to change, or other people to give you their advantages.

Create your own advantages by acting on your own initiative.

2. If it's to be, it's up to me.

Adopt the philosophy that "If it's to be, it's up to me".

"For things to get better, I must get better".

Isaac Newton's first law of motion states that "bodies remain motionless, or continue in a straight line, unless acted upon by a force".
In other words, your life will keep going on unchanged, unless and until you apply the force of your will, to change it.

Assume that if you want things to get better, you must do something to make them better.

3. Trust your own judgement.

Many people lack personal initiative because they don't trust their own judgement. They don't act, because they are afraid they may make a mistake.

To remedy this problem, you need to make a commitment to yourself that you will trust your own judgement.

If you do happen to make a mistake, then you will learn from it. Therefore, even making mistakes can be a benefit since you gain personal experience.

"Good judgement comes from experience, and experience comes from bad judgement." Simon Bolivar (1783 - 1830) Venezuelan military and political leader.

4. Don't wait for permission or opinion of others.

When it is safe to do so, act without asking the opinions of others.

Become mentally self-sufficient.

Obviously, this only applies to situations in which you have enough knowledge and it is safe to act, but in most circumstances, pretend there is NOBODY to turn to for advice.

Trying to make decisions and solve problems using only the power of your own mind, is great mental training that will enhance your personal initiative.

5. Apply the Do It Now, principle.

The moment you have made your decision, ACT on it. Don't wait.

Act immediately, because the longer you wait, the less likely you are to do anything.

The longer you wait, the more likely it is that self-doubts will stop you, or your motivation will dissipate.

This phenomenon is called, the law of diminishing intent.

The longer you wait, the less intention you have.

So: DO IT NOW.

Definition: personal initiative

Personal initiative is the skill of moving yourself to act before you are told. You spot a need or chance, decide on your own, and step in at once. You accept the risk of mistakes, learn from them, and use every action to make the situation better for you and the wider group.

Article Summary

Personal initiative means ending the wait, trusting your own judgement and acting now; when you choose to create your own chances instead of hoping for luck or permission, you turn ideas into progress and set a clear path to growth.

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About the Author: Chris Farmer

Chris Farmer is the founder of the Corporate Coach Group and has many years' experience in training leaders and managers, in both the public and private sectors, to achieve their organisational goals, especially during tough economic times. He is also well aware of the disciplines and problems associated with running a business.

Over the years, Chris has designed and delivered thousands of training programmes and has coached and motivated many management teams, groups and individuals. His training programmes are both structured and clear, designed to help delegates organise their thinking and, wherever necessary, to improve their techniques and skills.

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