My own personal definition is that initiative is the ability to take action on a project regardless of the projected success. Basically, to me this means that you step up and take responsibility for something even if you are unsure how you will achieve this, or the obstacles that may be in your path. I think this definition also hints at why BLF places emphasis on this area--it's one of the characteristics that people who are successful leaders must have within the real world. People aren't given rubrics, and most times are not provided with a timeline to get a project done. In addition, the resources may or may not be helpful. In short, only those with initiative with take out the factor of 'uncertainty', look over whether or not the task is easy, and still take responsibility to make it a success.
For my interview, I chose to talk with my work supervisor, who had just hit the 5-year mark of working as a Clinical Research Associate in our lab. Our PI (principal investigator) is very well-known in her field and has high standards for everyone, including students, graduate students, post-docs, and especially the full-time staff. But, my work supervisor has had the ability to not only do well in her position, but excel when working with our P.I. When I asked her about initiative, she said that it was one of the biggest characteristic that our P.I. looks for people. She didn't tell me a specific instance, because there are many, but in general those who take initiative in presenting new questions and ideas for research, take the lead in spearheading helpful changes, having the ability to problem-shoot when an issue arises all full under the domain of 'taking initiative'. She said that she tries her best to do things, or act 'proactively' (she used that word a lot) and this is one of the biggest reasons she has been successful while working for such a well-known P.I.
The young alumni panel definitely illustrated that taking initiative was a key to their own successes. They didn't wait for a job to fall in their path, or continue to work in the same field that made them unhappy. They changed their situations by taking initiative, and as my supervisor said, behaving proactively. I think a helpful lesson that can be learned from the panel is that all of those individuals sitting up there didn't immediately know where they were going, but they worked with what they had and created their own opportunities to succeed (or shift their focus if it wasn't in the direction that they wanted to head). Although their specific paths didn't help me much since that's not the line of work I want to go down, I did realize an important and universal characteristic: they were flexible yet determined, and for someone about to head into the real-world, this may be the key -- evaluate what you want in life and take charge about how to get yourself there with the resources you have.
Particularly within my life I think these lessons can apply, or at least remind me that if I'm unhappy with my situation, then it's in my power to change it. If I'm having trouble with my research advisor then don't sit back waiting for time to change things, actually go and work things out in order to conquer these roadblocks. I'm sure the future may hold similar situations -- where my boss is not very helpful, but those with initiative will probably go forth and get the help that they need even if they are not in the most ideal situation. I would say that this lesson was a good reminder at the right time for me.
Peace.
Mariam
