The Initiative Paradox and how to break free from it
Leaders crave teams that leap into action and take initiative. Teams crave leaders who pave the way and make it safe to fail and learn.
This standoff I call the Initiative Paradox. An invisible barrier that keeps both sides waiting for the other to move first.
Leaders wonder, “Why don’t they take initiative?”
Teams wonder, “Why does it feel risky?”
Fear pulls these strings, locking everyone in place.
Yet research shows teams that take initiative and hunt for challenge problems to solve build businesses 50% more valuable on sale and create over 6x greater profits than peers.
People that show initiative fast track their careers as it’s the #1 factor that drives promotion decisions.
The gains for both leaders and teams are significant, but who needs to move first to break the barrier? Leaders do.
Here’s how leaders unleash a team’s initiative:
Ignite purpose: Show how seeking out problems creates greater value and accelerates careers. When the WHY is big enough, it outweighs the fear of HOW.
Build a safety net: Lead by example—take a swing, stumble with humility, and learn quickly. FEAR fades when TRUST rises.
Boost know-how: Give teams simple tools and frameworks to help them solve any problem. Having a PATH TO FOLLOW creates CONFIDENCE to explore.
Don’t just wish for initiative—build teams that learn to thrive on it.