Initiative

At Level 1, initiative begins with showing up and stepping up. You complete assigned work reliably, and you start to spot small ways to contribute beyond your immediate tasks. You may not always act on ideas independently yet, but you're beginning to notice opportunities and build confidence in your voice. You don't need to lead the charge—you're learning how to raise your hand and take the first small step.

Key Behaviors

  • Completes tasks with consistency and care
  • Asks for clarification when unsure
  • Volunteers for small, well-scoped tasks
  • Offers help when teammates are overloaded
  • Brings up ideas or questions in meetings or retros

Common Struggles

  • May hesitate to act without explicit direction
  • Can overlook opportunities to help or improve
  • Might fear stepping on toes or getting it wrong

Success Indicators

You know you're successful when you:

  • Handle your own responsibilities with reliability
  • Raise your hand for things that need doing
  • Bring energy, curiosity, and care to your work
  • Start spotting opportunities to make small improvements

Mindset Shift

From:

"I wait to be assigned work."

To:

"I look for ways to contribute and help."

Questions to Ask Yourself

  • What's something I could fix or improve today?
  • Is anyone struggling with something I could support?
  • What's one small step I can take without needing permission?

Build These Habits

  • 1
    Keep a running list of ideas or annoyances you notice
  • 2
    Ask teammates, "What's something I could help move forward?"
  • 3
    Reflect weekly on where you added value without being asked

Seek Feedback

  • "Is there a better way I could've stepped in here?"
  • "What's something you appreciated that I did on my own?"
  • "Where could I be more proactive?"

Signals You're Ready to Level Up

  • Teammates trust you to take on new or ambiguous tasks
  • You're known for pitching in without needing to be asked
  • You see opportunities for action—and you take them

Focus Summary

  • Show up
  • Speak up
  • Step in

At Level 1, initiative is a muscle—and every small rep counts. You don't need to have big ideas yet. Just start by looking around and asking, "What needs doing?"