Happy August!
To support you in being F.I.R.S.T. (Future-Ready. Innovative. Relevant. Strategic. Trusted.), here’s 1 tip and 1 quote.
The F.I.R.S.T. Tip
If you’re leading a team, you’ve probably wished for people who step up more often.
You want team members who think ahead, solve problems, and take ownership without waiting to be told what to do.
But when that’s not happening, the instinct is often to push harder or feel frustrated.
Here is something we have learnt from working with high-trust, high-performing teams: People take initiative when they feel safe, trusted and supported. Not when they’re under pressure.
So if your team isn’t stepping up the way you would like them to, it may not be a question of skill or capability.
It might be a signal that something in our leadership approach needs to shift.
Here are three practical ways that encourage more ownership and initiative:
1. Ask before you tell. Instead of giving the answers straight away, try asking: “What do you think we should do?”
Then pause. Give space for their thinking to surface. You might discover that they had ideas all along! They just weren’t asked..
2. Acknowledge the effort, not just the result. People are more likely to take initiative when they know their efforts are seen, even if the outcome wasn’t perfect.
Celebrate the intent and their courage to try… it builds confidence.
3. Support without taking over. It’s natural to want to step in and “fix” things when something feels off. But doing so too quickly, can send the message: You can’t handle this.
Instead, coach them through the challenge. Let them work through it. That’s where growth happens.
The most proactive teams aren’t driven by constant direction.
They thrive in environments where initiative is encouraged, supported, and valued consistently.
And that begins with how we lead.
Want to build a culture where initiative thrives?
Strong cultures don’t happen by chance. At Influence Solutions, we help leaders and teams shape environments where people step up and perform at their best.
Learn more about our leadership solutions: https://influence-solutions.com/our-solutions/leadership-development/
Let’s talk about how we can help your people step up and your culture move forward.
👉 Click here to contact us for a consultation.
The F.I.R.S.T. Quote
