The Three “I”s of Initiative
What does it mean to show initiative at work? It means simply to make your boss’s job easy. How does one make the boss’s job easier by using initiative? Let us briefly discuss several different assets you can display as an exemplary follower to make your boss’s job easy. You should be imaginative, inspirational, and independent.
Imagination
Imagination is the act or power of forming a mental image of something not present to the senses or never before wholly perceived in reality.1 Albert Einstein once said, “Imagination is everything. It is the preview of life’s coming attractions.” Your imagination can be one of your greatest personal assets. It allows you to see the world or your new job as full of possibility. When used purposefully, your imagination becomes the trigger of your creative abilities, and you can begin to make your boss’s job easier.2
1. Write it down. What have you imagined? What does this fantasy look like, and how does it influence your existence? Describe it in detail. As you write, allow the details to add clarity to your vision. If some important aspect is unclear, read your description and then close your eyes and concentrate on what you see.
2. Tell me your fantasies, and I will show you your dreams. Write them down, and I will read you your future. The goal here is to put your mental image, and the feelings connected with it, into words that accurately describe your idea. The written word will introduce your fantasy to the physical world. It will now live in black and white on a sheet of paper that you can carry around and read whenever and wherever you want.
3. Define the sequence. Every vision has a logical sequence to its understanding. Let’s use a home in the country as an example. First, you need to decide if it is a home you want to build, or one that already exists. If you are going to build it (or have it built), then the sequence would involve a piece of property, a house plan, permits, site preparation. Each sequential step will require a certain amount of time, money, or both.
4. If you want to buy an existing home, then you need to figure out where to begin your search. Does it need to be near a city that will support your work? Does it need to have room for raising horses or some other important purpose? How much money do you need for a down payment? Answering these questions will allow you to see what comes first in the understanding sequence.
5. Create a plan of action. Once you have defined the sequence, make a plan. What can you do right now to start actively moving toward the realization of your vision? What will you do next? Figure out how to start unfolding this new reality. You will probably discover extra steps along the way, but don’t worry about that now. Figure out a tentative plan and write it down. The most important thing is to get the ball moving in the right direction without getting bogged down in too many details.
6. Start taking action. Action is now an essential component for the realization. Find something to do and start doing it. If you want that cute little house in the country, start looking. If you need more money to make it happen, figure out how to start making more money. Don’t let the lack of money prevent you from continuing your search. Looking is free, and it keeps the vision alive. It also keeps your mind motivated to find a solution to the money aspect. If you are going to build a house, start drawing up floor plans and figure out what style you want. Do this while you continue to look for property. Keep taking action, so your mind stays focused on your vision. With action comes clarity, purpose, and direction.
7. Keep track of your progress. One of the things that can help us stay motivated during this process is to recognize our progress continually. Every single time you accomplish even the tiniest goal, write it down, check it off, and celebrate your progress. Give yourself credit for bringing your vision that much closer to understanding. Make sure you always take time to acknowledge your accomplishments along the way. To continue the realization process just keep your vision alive in your imagination, keep adding clarity to it, and keep taking action in the right direction.
Inspiration
We all know people who are encouraging. However, just how does one inspire others? Here are 10 simple ways you can inspire people to be their best:3
1. Be a good example. People watch what you do more than they listen to what you say. Be someone worth emulating.
2. Care about others. People do not care about how much you know until they know how much you care. Ask questions. Take a genuine interest in people.
3. Encouragement. Everyone goes through tough times. When you support people and encourage them through these times, you’ll be encouraging them to see the best in themselves and the situation.
4. Be inspired yourself. Look for people, ideas, environments, and knowledge that you find inspiring and motivating.
5. Share from your own experience. You have more to share than you realize. Mine the rich experiences of your life and share your wisdom from your unique point of view. You may be the only one who can touch someone with your inspiring message.
6. Be vulnerable. Be willing to share your failures, as well as your successes. Others will relate to you. They’ll understand that they are not the only ones with challenges.
7. Tell stories. Facts tell, and stories sell. They inspire, too. We learn best from parables, and we all need to develop our own inspiring stories.
8. Be a good communicator. Increasing your ability to communicate effectively is a critical element for you to inspire others. Watch how you speak and what you say. Invest in your communication skills.
9. Challenge people. Many of us have had teachers who at times seemed more like tormentors than mentors. They challenged us to do our best, and we were better for it. Practice carefrontation—the careful and caring confrontation of others.
10. Read. It may not follow that all readers are leaders, but certainly all leaders are readers. Stay informed. Share what you read with others. Tell people about books that have inspired you. Share the knowledge.4
Independent Thinking
In order for you to come up with truly unique, creative ideas, you must become an independent thinker. Our brains are full of recycled ideas we’ve already heard from others, but you can learn to think independently, or come up with novel ideas, with a few easy psychological tips and tools.5 Consequently, your natural tendency is to draw on your experience to come up with solutions to problems. Independent thinking requires you to break that mold. Try these three strategies to prompt your brain to think more independently:6
Place a Lot of Constraints on the Problem7
Paradoxically, open-ended problems are the enemy of independent thinking. Instead, give yourself limitations. Rule out elements of the solution that look expected or natural. For example, can you make a bank that has no tellers? Can you write a book that has no beginning? The constraints should force you to consider an unfamiliar scenario, and you should try as many of them as you work toward a viable solution.
Combine Ideas That Seem Ill-Matched8
When you are trying to solve a problem, your memory will retrieve solutions or concepts that seem like logical matches, often because others have used that match already. To think differently, consider ideas that don’t seem compatible at all. For example, what if you made a dating website that worked as Wikipedia? Alternatively, what if you found a way to open a can using only airplane parts? Many of your ideas will fail, but any that succeed are likely to be unique.
Take the Bird’s Eye View9
When you are trying to solve a problem, zoom out to see variables that others might overlook. Ask yourself, what is the purpose of solving this problem? What would happen if I succeed? Moreover, how can I find a solution that makes that outcome work? For example, Thomas Edison saw that houses would need to be wired for electricity if people were going to buy light bulbs. To send power over long distances, you need a high-voltage bulb. Edison was the only inventor who realized this, so he was the one who made history. Once you have begun to take the initiative to make things happen you will need to maintain your positive mental attitude.