simply defined, initiative is a trait someone has in them to take on task without having being told or instruct. Among leaders, this initiative traits is more an expectation. To acquire this trait, it requires training and cultivation.

Between initiative and decision making, it is merely a fine line in between and confusion often arised to differential the two. Take an example to illustrate; the floor is wet at the entrace, customer who walk in may trip. An initiative would be to realize the web floor and take action to clean up immediately without being told. Of course you need to make a decision to clean it up but the difference is you did it without being told

 An effective leader should discover employee who take the initiative to do the right thing as opposed to waiting to be told. Worst thing is some employee has a tendancy to wait for someone else do it. You should observe employee with outstanding initiative which is an indicator for maturity and potential. However, you should take action immediately you have discovered the initiative else it will fade away over time. To sustain employee take out their initiative, leaders should take action to encourage such initiative and give employee an opportunity to take on heavier task is his initiave warrants it

“Monkey see Monkey Do” is a phrase which describe employee tend to follow what the leader does. If you want to cultivate a “take Initiative” culture, you as a leader not only need to show leadership by example but also need to motivates employee who do so with the appropriate recognition.