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Initiative

General Competency

Definition

Initiative involves identifying a problem, obstacle or opportunity and taking appropriate action to address current or future problems or opportunities. As such, initiative can be seen in the context of proactively doing things and not simply thinking about future actions. Formal strategic planning is not included in this competency.

Behavioural Scales

Level 1

  • Recognizes and reacts to present opportunities.
  • Reacts to present problems, including overcoming obstacles.

Level 2

  • Acts quickly and decisively in a crisis or other time-sensitive situation.
  • Acts with a sense of urgency when the norm is to wait, study the situation, and hope the problem will resolve itself.

Level 3

  • Creates opportunities or minimizes potential problems by a unique extra effort (new program, special travel, etc.) occurring within a 1-3 month time frame. 

Level 4

  • Anticipates and prepares for a specific opportunity or problem that is not obvious to others.
  • Takes action to create an opportunity or avoid future crisis, looking ahead 4–12 months. 

Level 5

  • Anticipates situations 1–2 years ahead or more.
  • Acts to create opportunities or avoid problems that are not obvious to others. 

Level 6

  • Proactively identifies areas that are in the long-term interests of the organization.
  • Develop plans to address these areas (which will typically be multi-year plans).