INITIATIVE ASSIGNMENT
NAME________________________
INITIATIVE AND CO-OP….
REFLECTIVE
Initiative can be defined as seeing what has to be done and doing it.
Once you have been shown or taught a task, do you wait to be told to do it or do you see that it has to be done and go about doing it? If
your supervisor is busy or you have completed an assigned task, what do you do? If you do not know something, or think you should know
more, what do you do about learning it? The proper answers to these questions are examples of how co-op students can show initiative.
Reflect on co-op placement. Have you shown initiative? Tell us about it by completing the “Clues for Assessing Your Initiative.” The is a
self-evaluation exercise which can teach you some techniques for evaluating performance and setting strategies for improving initiative
which will result in improved skills and a better co-op experience. (Be honest with yourself).
CLUES FOR ASSESSING YOUR INITIATIVE
Circle “YES” or “NO” to the following questions and give a specific example from your work placement to verify your answer.
1.
Do you wait until you are told before beginning a new task? Yes/No
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2.
If you think something is being done wrong, do you think that it’s someone else’s problem? Yes/No
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3.
Do you think that doing your job well is all that should matter to your supervisors? Yes/No
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4.
Do you resent being asked to take over a job or emergency when you do not think that it is your job or a pleasant job? Yes/No
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5.
Do you avoid suggesting changes because you feel no one will listen to a co-op student or that it isn’t a good idea anyway?
Yes/No
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6.
Do you avid asking questions of your supervisor regarding careers, education, focus topics, areas of the placement that interest
you personally (but may not be task related)? Yes/No
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7.
Do you avoid working extra hours or going in after co-op hours to see or work on a task that you may otherwise not have the
opportunity to participate in? Yes/No
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8.
Do you get to co-op barely on time and leave right on time? Yes/No
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If you answered “yes” to more than one of these questions, it is possible that you have an initiative problem.
Strategy Report:
Prepare a list of 5 tasks that you can perform to improve initiative at your co-op placement such as:
 A task you can complete each day upon arriving or before leaving that you can perform without asking
 It may be a problem that you can solve without running to your supervisor
 It may be a suggestion that you present to your supervisor
 It may be some task that you have not had the opportunity to perform or observe.
1.
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2.
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3.
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Next week implement your 3 improvement tasks at your placement and prepare a one page report on how successful you were on your
attempt to improve initiative.
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ASSESSMENT #1:
Showing initiative in your job involves using good judgment in solving problems. It is important both in doing your present job well and in improving
your chances for advancement. Circle YES, NO or NOT SURE to the following 6 questions to assess your initiative!
1. Do you make an effort to learn about the objectives and products of the organization you are working for?
1. YES
NO
NOT SURE
This would include: asking your supervisor or other employees about the organization's structure, products, and services;
and reading employee manuals, organization newsletters, and annual reports.
2. Are you versatile and adaptable?
2 . YES NO
NOT SURE
This would be shown by such actions as: willingly learning new jobs; taking over for others who are unexpectedly absent, etc.
3. Do you try to improve your skills and qualifications?
3. YES NO
NOT SURE
You can do this by: learning new skills from other workers, getting involved in your organization's in-house training programs; teaching yourself new skills in your
spare time; or taking upgrading courses at your local college or university.
4. Do you show a positive attitude towards your job?
4. YES NO
NOT SURE
This would include: taking pride in doing your job well; not complaining about the work or the people you work with; and willingly staying late to finish an urgent task.
5. Are you a problem solver?
5. YES NO
NOT SURE
This would include: noticing problems when they arise; reporting them to your supervisor; and. coming up with solutions to
overcome the difficulty.
6. Do you try to improve the quality of the projects that you are working on?
6. YES NO
NOT SURE
This would involve: understanding the purpose of your work; making suggestions about new ways to perform a task; and
making sure that the quality of your work is high.
# OF Yes –
# of No–
# of Not Sure -
ASSESSMENT: If you have answered "NO" or "NOT SURE" to any of these questions, you may need to learn to show more initiative on the job.
How would you do this? Who would you seek for help?
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ASSESMENT #2:
To get an idea if you have personality characteristics that suggest that you would (or do) show initiative on the job, fill out the chart below:
5=excellent
4=good 3=average
2=below average 1=needs much improvement
INITIATIVE ITEM
5
4
3
2
1
a. willing to work and contribute in a positive manner to the company (not just put in
time)
b. willing to help others on the job; performing other duties (not just focus on your
task at hand)
c. keeping busy when my regular job is done (look around for jobs; not wait to be
told your next task)
d. putting in extra time if needed (staying beyond required hours to complete a job;
meet a deadline)
e. doing positive things to help improve the spirit of the company (enhance
appearance of workplace; join clubs/committees)
f. taking courses or subjects that may improve your job performance (either on-thejob or after hours)
g. willing to suggest new and better ways to improve job performance (analyze
performance in order to improve)
Assessment: If you checked a 3, 2 or1, reassess your commitment to the organization you are working for and what you would like to
achieve.
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TOP 8 SKILLS FOR SUCCESS IN THE WORKPLACE
The following is an alphabetical list of skills/traits needed in the work place.
1. Select five (5) skills/traits you think employers would look for in potential employees.
2. EXPLAIN how you would demonstrate each one you selected at the placement.
i.e. why is this skill/trait important and/or what does it include?
a) adaptability/flexibility/versatility
b) communication skills (oral and written)
c) creativity
d) embracing technologies
e) enthusiasm/motivation skills
f) honesty and respect
g) initiative/self-starting skills
h) leadership skills
i) life-long learner/personal development
j) multi-tasker; multi-departmental skills
k) organization/planning skills/ time management skills
l) persuasion and negotiation
m) responsibility/dependability
n) sense of humour
o) team work skills
p) thinking skills (analytical/problem-solving skills)
Getting Along with the Boss and Co-Workers
Responding to a Boss
There are three common ways employees use to respond to their bosses: Defensive, Offensive and
Cooperative.
1. Defensive Response
 Always feeling boss is unfair or picking on them
 Resent directions and suggestions
 Always have an excuse
 Examples; defending their actions; pouting; carrying out orders slowly; threatening to
quit; saying “why me?”; complaining about unfair treatment
2. Offensive Response
 Openly hostile and defiant of orders and suggestions
 Examples; arguing; complaining; yelling; refusing to do tasks
3. Cooperative Response
 Willingly accept orders and suggestions
 Examples: smiling; giving positive response; asking questions if there is a problem;
carrying out orders immediately and efficiently; discussing calmly and privately any
concerns that they might have
Accepting Criticism
The proper way to handle criticism is to accept responsibility for what you have done and express a
willingness to change or improve. To do this you must:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Listen carefully and identify the problem
Don’t let your emotions get in your way
Don’t make excuses or blame others
Take a minute to RESPOND, rather than REACT.
Respond in a manner that recognizes the concern of the person, even if you disagree.
If you don’t think the criticism is valid, ask to speak to your boss privately. Voice your side of the
story calmly. Be prepared to accept the boss’s side of the issue.
Common Response Styles
Read the following situations and give an example of the common response an employee might give
using each of the three response styles; D=Defensive; O=Offensive; C=Cooperative
For example:
The office that you work in is very busy. You are trying to finish some filing. The boss is in a panic and
yells at you to type two letters that he needs for his meeting in 15 minutes.
RESPONSES:
D: Type the letters slowly so the boss knows you don’t like to be yelled at
O: Yell back at the boss, “You could have given me a little more warning!”
C: Say “Sure, I get right to it”, and type the letters as fast as you can.
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Situation 1:
Communication
/10
Thinking
/10
You are working on a great display for Easter at your placement. You were told by your employer to
take it down because they want to put another visual display in its place.
RESPONSES:
D: ______________________________________________________________________________________
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O: ______________________________________________________________________________________
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C: ______________________________________________________________________________________
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Situation 2:
Your supervisor is a quiet person who doesn’t seem to interact much with the other staff at the school.
You have been working very hard and wish he/she would tell you if you are doing a good job:
RESPONSES:
D: ______________________________________________________________________________________
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O: ______________________________________________________________________________________
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C: ______________________________________________________________________________________
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Non-Assertive/Assertive/Aggressive
NON-ASSERTIVE IS: Letting other people make decisions for you that you disagree with, because you
lack the self determination and the ability to stick up for yourself.
ASSERTIVE IS:
Being confident and positive about what you believe. It is defending your right to
your values and beliefs without trying to impose your values and beliefs on
others.
AGGRESSIVE IS:
Characterized by aggression or attack. Imposing your demands, values, and
beliefs on others. Not respecting others.
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Instructions:
Read the following scenario...see if you agree with the responses:
Just as you’re about to go out the door for an important lunch, meeting with a client, your boss calls
you on the telephone. She/he starts to tell you about the problem she/he’s been having with a
customer who has an issue that needs to be resolved. You’re anxious to get off the phone and go
for lunch.
You say:
 “I’d like to hear more about it later. I was just on my way out when you called, I’ll call you back as
soon as I come back from my lunch meeting.” ....assertive
 “Look, I’m too busy to talk to you now. You’ve always got some little problem, and I have more
important things to do. Good-bye.” ....aggressive
 “You listen and listen and listen.”....non-assertive
Getting Along with the Boss and Co-Workers
Instructions: The boss is going to give you orders, criticize you, and evaluate you. How you respond
will determine how well you get along with your boss. This skill is one of the most important things you
will learn at your work placement.
Practice correct assertive responses for these situations:
Communication
/10
1. Your boss begs you to work Friday night to complete a job. You are not scheduled to work and
have already made some special plans. You say?
2. An employee at your work placement wants you to cover for him/her and tell the employer that
he/she worked an afternoon (3 hours) that he/she did not work. You say?
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3. One of your fellow employees at the work placement is speaking to you and accusing another
employee of lying. You do not agree. If you say nothing, you will feel that you are agreeing with the
accuser and are not being loyal to the victim. You say?
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