Initiative

Initiative

Initiative means the capacity to work while expressing one’s thoughts. According to Fayol, it is the duty of the manager to encourage the feeling of initiative among his employees for doing some work or taking some decision but within the limits of authority and discipline.

It will be possible only when the manager will welcome the thoughts of his/her subordinates. By doing so the subordinates will present new and useful ideas time and again and gradually they will become an integral part of the organisation. In order to make this process a success a manager will have to abandon his false sense of prestige.

Management must welcome the employees for taking initiatives in forwarding valuable suggestions before the plans are set up for them. When the plans are set up in consultation with the employees they will feel as if it is their own plan and they have to complete it, which will stimulate them to work whole heartedly. This will reduce wastage, absenteeism and maintain a cordial relation between employees and management.

This principle helps the management to know more ways of executing the predetermined plan as the employees give various suggestions. When the employees are involved in such a way in the management they feel satisfied and take each and every necessary step to accomplish the plan. This will make the working environment more interesting, more cooperative and more effective.