Initiative is the ability to start things on your own without being told. It can also mean a new plan or program started to solve a problem.
It comes from French “initiative,” from Latin “initium” (beginning). The personal sense of initiative grew from the idea of being the one who creates the beginning.
Having initiative means you’re the spark, not just the fuel—you create the beginning instead of waiting for orders. Companies and teachers praise it because it’s hard to teach and easy to spot. The same word also labels big government or business plans, which are basically “official beginnings.”
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