C&T Scene: Showing initiative

    Welcome to the new C&T Scene section of the Learn and Grow Newsletter. It was designed especially for you featuring articles related to Clerical and Technical learning and development. Each month we will highlight a C&T performance dimension or competency; what that competency looks like at Yale; and how you can find resources to develop and enhance that skill. We encourage you to take the initiative to build on the skills that are relevant to your current position, and can help you pursue your career planning and fulfillment goals.

    How can I show Initiative in the workplace?
    Initiative is the ability to start/begin things independently.  It is a sought-after quality that you bring to the workplace. You can show initiative in the workplace in a variety of ways. A person who shows initiative is often described as a self-starter, proactive, resourceful and also as someone who anticipates problems, suggests creative new approaches to solve problems, and thinks about ways to improve skills.

    Here are some ways in which you can demonstrate initiative in the workplace:

    • Learn a new skill at work
    • Ask for feedback and act on it
    • Foresee potential obstacles to prevent problems
    • Ask questions to understand how things work
    • Volunteer for an assignment
    • Suggest and develop ideas and methods to enhance a department procedure
    • Help a coworker learn a new skill
    • Initiate a conversation with your manager about your individual development plan

    We challenge you now to take initiative by getting started: