Personal Initiative

L 13.9

Michael Frese

focus→ organizational behavior and work psychology

Topics→ unemployment, work stress, predictors of personal initiative, innovation

personal initiative

a behavior that results in an individual taking an active and self-starting approach to work goals and tasks and persisting in overcoming barriers and setbacks

developing personal initiative

created a measure of initiative

Tested it in samples→ community groups, university students, blue-collar workers, small business owners and mid level managers

Studies in→ west Germany, Dutch blue-collar workers, African and German business owners, hospitals, students

two essential elements

self-starting, proactive nature→ taking an active, self-starting approach to the goals

Overcoming difficulties that arise in pursuit of a goal→ persistence in the face of barriers and setbacks

self-starting

goals are internal (your goals), no given by someone else

With guidance from others, we develop personally meaningful jobs

persistence in the face of barriers

commit to realistic goals

Don’t easily give up

practicing personal initiative

be proactive

Increase proactive action

be proactive

take initiative

Anticipate and prepare for future demands

Prevent problems before they appear

increase proactive action

actively seek feedback

Create signals that warn about future problems

Plan for problems

future orientation

third element

Have a long-term focus

personal initiative importance

goals have setbacks, complications, difficulties, obstacles, etc

Things get in the way

Planning may overlook something

alternative

being a passive person

Waits to be told what to do

Looks to others for direction

Not a self-starter, so a non-player character (NPC)

To increase personal initiative

note the benefits gained by acting on your own initiative

If you want something, take action

Trust your judgment

Don’t wait for permission or approval of others

Apply the DO IT NOW principle

goals of initiative

Being proactive; increasing proactive behavior