Take Initiative!

To move the world we must first move ourselves – Socrates

Leaders take initiative. Successful people take initiative.

If you think of any accomplishment, world renowned or personal, it all started with someone taking initiative. Yet we all lack initiative to a greater or lesser degree in some area of our lives. For example, many who demonstrate exceptional initiative in their business life often drag their feet in taking action on their health or relationships.

Taking initiative can be hard. But it does not have to be.

When we look at initiative the hesitation usually boils down to a couple of areas. Listed below are some common causes and suggested strategies for powering through the challenges.

1) Fear. Fear holds us back and is a great motivator to prevent us from reaching our goals. Fear of failure. Fear of rejection. Fear of loss. Fear of pain. These are all common fears that keep us from taking initiative. I once had a terrible fear of heights. This kept me from participating in a variety of activities all through early life. Then, one day, I went with a friend to go skydiving. Just like that. I suited up, took the brief training class, headed up in the plane and dove out of the door with my tandem dive master.

a. Power Strategy: I didn’t really know it at the time but what I had applied was the understanding that fear is simply an emotion and I instantly changed my fear emotion with an excitement emotion. Instead of being afraid of what disaster could happen I focused instead on the excitement of accomplishing something very few people do in their lives. I applied this strategy on a massive level but it can be applied at any level. By translating your fear into something positive and motivating you can just start initiative quickly. Rather than being afraid to make that tough phone call, translate that fear into an empowering emotion like accomplishment.

2) Knowledge. Sometimes we fail to take initiative because we believe we lack the knowledge or talent to achieve the accomplishment. Sometimes this is a real lack of knowledge, sometimes perceived, sometimes it just doesn’t matter.

a. Real Knowledge - There are times when we simply don’t know how to go about accomplishing a task or project. Maybe you don’t know how to use a certain software program needed.

i. Power Strategy: Can you learn it, and if so, how quickly? Can you leverage the task to someone else who has the skill you lack?

b. Perceived Knowledge: Sometimes we think we lack the knowledge or we pretend not to know

i. Power Strategy: Apply common sense to the challenge blocking your initiative.

Often times this will be far more than enough knowledge to set you on the path to accomplishment & success

3) Timing. Often we are waiting for the “right” time to take initiative. Tomorrow, next week, next year. But when we’re honest with ourselves we know that tomorrow never comes until we take initiative. Timing is important. You don’t want to rush an important decision, conversation or project. However, don’t let a good time pass waiting for the “perfect” time

a. Power Strategy: It is easier to move from failure to success than from excuses to success. It does not hurt to envision the perfect scenario when setting out on a path. In that process, add a good scenario, including the timing, and seize the opportunity when “good” approaches. It may not be perfect but at least you’ve started down the right path and can correct along the way

4) Overwhelm. A challenge to initiative is overwhelm. Not knowing where to begin. This challenge can be a hurdle or crippling depending on the size of the task and your preparation to handle it.

a. Power Strategy: Group it and plan it. Any task, no matter how big, can be broken down into its elements. By grouping a major project into big parts, then smaller parts, then individual tasks it is much easier to handle. You can also create a detailed plan on how to go about accomplishing each task along the way.

In addition to a few of the strategies listed above another power strategy for helping kick start your initiative is to recruit an accountability partner. This would be someone you can trust and who will be honest with you. Let this person know what your challenges are and ask him or her to support you in powering through them.