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Initiative

Dealing with situations and issues proactively and persistently, seizing opportunities that arise.
Level 1 Identifies immediate action needed

BEHAVIORS

  • Brings issues to the attention of appropriate personnel as needed
  • Offers ideas or suggests modified approaches to address current situations or issues.
  • Undertakes straightforward tasks that go beyond the job's routine demands (e.g., helps others when their own work is completed), without being prompted.

QUESTIONS

  • Describe a time when a situation arose that was overlooked by others and immediate action was needed.

Probing Questions

* What was the situation?

* Why was it overlooked?

* What did you take into consideration when deciding whether or not to pursue it?

* How did things work out?

  • Provide an example of a situation where you offered ideas or suggestions on addressing a situation.

Probing Questions

* What situation was involved?

* Did others request your ideas/suggestions, or did you offer them on your own?

* How did others react to your ideas/suggestions?

* What was the outcome?

Level 2 Addresses current issues

BEHAVIORS

  • Acts on issues in own area of responsibility instead of waiting or hoping the problem will solve itself.
  • Tries varied approaches and solutions to resolve a problem.
  • Persists when significant difficulties arise.

QUESTIONS

  • Describe a situation where you took steps that extended beyond the directions you were given or what a client had asked you to do because you knew that it made sense to do so.

Probing Questions

* What were you working on? What direction had you been given/what had the client requested?

* What did you do that went beyond the direction provided/the client's request?

* Why did you do this?

* How did your actions impact on the work you were doing?

  • Please describe a time when you were particularly persistent in seeking a solution to a challenging problem.

Probing Questions

* Describe the situation.

* What means did you employ in trying to solve the problem?

* Why did you need to be particularly persistent?

* How were you successful?

  • Tell me about a situation where you tried various approaches or solutions in order to solve a problem.

Probing Questions

* What was the problem?

* What approaches did you try?

* Did you change your approach?

* How did things work out?

Level 3 Addresses imminent issues or opportunities ("Imminent" does not necessarily mean that a "crisis" is involved)

BEHAVIORS

  • Takes action to avoid an imminent problem.
  • Capitalizes on an imminent opportunity.
  • Suggests ways to achieve better results or add value beyond the current situation.
  • Perseveres in seeking opportunities to advance organizational objectives in the near term.

QUESTIONS

  • Talk about a time when a new work or project opportunity arose unexpectedly.

Probing Questions

* What was the opportunity?

* What did you take into consideration when deciding whether or not to pursue it?

* What was your decision?

* How did things work out?

  • Tell me about a time when you saw and acted on an opportunity to improve a process or address a current problem.

Probing Questions

* What opportunity/problem did you see?

* How did you think you could improve things?

* How did you act on it?

* Were you successful? Why?

Level 4 Seizes opportunities to enhance organizational performance

BEHAVIORS

  • Acts on opportunities to improve organizational processes or outcomes.
  • Perseveres in seeking solutions to complex issues despite significant and ongoing obstacles.
  • Creates opportunities to undertake initiatives that will benefit the organization in the near or intermediate-term.

QUESTIONS

  • Tell us about a time when you exceeded the standard expectation of your job by doing something that you felt would benefit your organization?

Probing Questions

* Describe the situation.

* How did you exceed the organization's expectations of your position?

* What was the outcome of the situation?

  • Tell us about a time when the initiative that you took was key to advancing an organizational goal or enhancing organizational performance.

Probing Questions

* What organizational goal/aspect of the organizational performance was involved?

* What did you do that displayed initiative?

* How did your initiative serve to advance the organizational goal/enhance organizational performance?

Level 5 Addresses future opportunities

BEHAVIORS

  • Addresses high-level challenges that have the potential to advance a field of study or sector.
  • Anticipates long-term future (more than 2 years) opportunities, positioning the organization to take advantage of them.

QUESTIONS

  • Give an example of a time when you anticipated an upcoming trend or future opportunity (of more than 2 years) and you developed or implemented a plan to take advantage of it.

Probing Questions

* What trend or opportunity did you see?

* What plan did you develop?

* How did you act on it?

* How did this benefit the organization?

  • Could you tell us about a time you have addressed high-level challenges that have advanced a field of study or sector?

Probing Questions

* What was the field of study or sector?

* What was the challenge?

* What did you do?

* Who else did you work with?

* What was the outcome?