In one line: Acting before you are asked: sizing up the risk, picking a direction, and starting.
Part of the Drive cluster of the Engineering Leadership Capabilities.
What it means
Initiative is the habit of treating a gap you notice as yours to close. It pairs a quick read of what could go wrong with a willingness to propose a path anyway, instead of waiting for permission or perfect information.
What it looks like
- Volunteering to own the messy, unassigned problem on a program
- Bringing a draft plan to a meeting instead of a question
- Starting a proof-of-concept that makes a stalled decision easier