Is it wrong to take initiative at work?

Taking initiative has never been proved bad for me personally. I have noticed on many occasions how this happens and why. I have lost job opportunities due to this feeling of jealousy in people in positions of power, but I would sooner not work for someone of that nature. If your clients appreciate what you do for them, and it doesn't go against the policies of your workplace, continue to please your clients. It will work better for you in the long run, no matter what your immediate supervisor may say or do. When you leave, your clients will follow because it is YOU they deal with, not the company you work for. Continue to build the people, they are where you ultimately get your paycheck from anyways. Cheers.

some people are really insensitive. they will always do what is in there mind. they never think a heae if someone gets hurts especially in work. there are also managers who are not so prepare in deligating a work thats why everyone take an opportunity to do nit without being deligated so that everything well be done. in that way they must be appreciated.

I do think the ability to take initiative is a good attitude. However, I have learnt that taking initiatives is good only if it is done in the correct situation. At times trying to be helpful ends up becoming a hinder and the feeling is very lousy if people does not appreciate your intention. I have concluded that I will take initiative only within the boundary of my workscope.

It is a fact of life that no matter how strong or tough you are, there will always be someone strong and tougher than you. Taking initiative at work is no wrong but it might over shadow your team leader. If one is able and strong, then one should disguise oneself in order to appear inept and weak. This will keep the cordial relationship between peers and subordinates strong and trouble free without any form of jealousy.

Hi subha, this is indeed a bad situation that u r going thru. Well, we also had a reverse appraisal, in which we reported on the team leader. There were specific questions that needed to be answered about the team leaders capabilities, and this was one of them. May be u could try talking to the management to get that type of system in place. Almost all BPO companies have such a system.

Taking initiative has never proven bad for me. You recognize there is an issue at hand. That's a big step. Many don't realize it or continue to beat themselves up about poor performance on their part. Don't do this. Continue to analyze your situation. Continue to be proactive with the supervisor (ie: cc's) Maybe your education backgrounds are so varied, maybe he's not clear where you're coming from in your decisions. (You mentioned he was older). Help him understand the rationale if that's at all possible. You may try to diffuse potential negative feelings by saying to him, "Client X requested .... I recommended these items for consideration BECAUSE.... What do you think I could have done better? How would you have handled this differently?" My hope for you is that this sort of verbal conversation can help diffuse negative energies so that you both may focus on the client. If he continues to rely on the same old tactics, they will come to light sooner or later (if they haven't already). If he gets a promotion (especially to another department) consider that a blessing if you end up with decreased contact. If he gets the promotion and you have the same amount of contact, he may appreciate the extra effort on your part. If not, it's his LOSS. Not yours. You are doing the best you can. Try to let some things go and continue to do your best. You will shine in your efforts ( I would think especially with your coworkers) whether or not you get that promotion this time. Going back to "If he continues to rely on the same old tactics.." My father always says to me, "If you keep doing what you're doing, you'll keep getting what you've already gotten." The higher ups will notice this and he'll get stuck somewhere in a stagnant position eventually. You keep taking initiative. I'm eager to see how this turns out, so please continue to keep us in the loop!

Personally, I think a lot of people will find this happening especially now a days with employment being harder to find and keep, and often you need to watch these people so they do not end up turning on you and making your life and job even more miserable. We have a couple of people like this where I work and usually even if you are always fixing their mistakes and such, the minute you dare make a mistake they are the first ones to make it known by pointing it out as well. Sometimes I think they want to be the only ones doing their job even when it may not be the best.

Well why dont you go to the manager and let him know what is going on. I have worked where there was a jealous person, and that person sometimes took credit for something that I did. I finally went to the manager with a friend that helped me and knew what was happening and told them, sorry that project was mine and mine alone. It appears to me that you do need to leave this job and find another one, as I get the feeling that most don't like you there and will do anything to get you fired. It maybe that you do your work when it is there to be done, or you start a project on your own and the rest don't and that makes them look bad, so if they get rid of you, things will be better for you. It does appear to me that you are trying to do your job, and facing a lot of people that would rather see you fail. Is there a way you could start out on your own, or maybe when you get the new job, get some clients, one at a time to do the work for them on the side, until you have built up a following, it is always nicer to work for one's self than to try to please a boss. Some bosses seem to think other are a threat to their job. Or the manager could see you as a threat to his. Any time you have to work in the workforce for someone else, there are problems. I am sorry that I have come down on you so hard on here, but somehow this morning I get the feeling no matter what you do it would not be good enough for them. People who do their jobs and take the initiative with out having to be told to do every little step, become a threat to the ones that don't work that way. Seems to me you would be happier somewhere else. I know jobs are hard to find, but keep looking and putting in resumes and hopefully something will come open for you.

hi subha 12 we have both been here awhile. I am sorry to hear'you are being talked about falsely. I had a under supervisor once who tried her best to undermine me anytime I took the initiative but fortune took a good turn, she had to have surgery and when she came back her job had been filled. hurrah for my side. I am retired now. I dont think you are wrong at all and you should be moved up because you are taking initiavtive.

Usually, it is good for you to take the initiative, especially at work. Unfortunately, some bosses say that that want you to do it, but then get mad when you actually do it. This is a difficult situation. I think you are right that they get jealous or feel threatened by other people. It makes it very difficult to not only do your job properly but also enjoy your work. I hope that the situation improves soon or that you get a better job so you don't have to deal with it.

Normally not. Unless you have a bunch of people who work for you who are 'slagggers'. They would not like you to take initiative. They will call you as one out to "rock the boat". You would make them look bad before the boss. You may get a good appraisal but working relationship with your colleagues may suck big time!

I don't think it wrong to take the initiative. A fella I worked with a couple years back told me..'Its easy to do someone else's job. You need do something that makes it your job.' I do it all the time where I work. Granted, I don't work in an office atmosphere, so it doesn't apply exactly. But I have supervisor's fussing amongst themselves as to who gets me for the day. In your situation I think I would go to the manager and explain that your 'team leader' has lost sight of the 'team goal', that he disapproves of creative initiative thereby hurting the overall performance of the team as a whole. If your manager truly believes in taking initiative I suspect he will see such action as such and check out your claims. ENJOY!

It's really a bad situation what you are going through, but I always think that as long as you are working for others ,its always hard to find happiness. So, if there is a chance, be a boss yourself, that is the best choice. But in reality, most of us have to work for other's company, it depends on your lucky, if you meet a good team ,good supervisor, situation will be totally defferent. So, I approve your decising to find another job. Good luck. My english is not very good, so, don't mine, if you could understand. Do your best for the future.

It's good to have initiative and be proactive. Learning, I see it like this: Theory - Practice - Theory. Therefore do not make excuses, to delay doing something just because you can not do it perfectly. But it's important that once you start doing it, to get informed and to seek to evolve (and it start working after prior notice, initiatory theory). But I rather I count on another idea. That you do not have to relate to others. Every day you want to evolve, to be a better person than you were yesterday. To be getting wiser. In life's better to be responsible so that you always do everything for you. You can say that if you failed, you failed only because of factors not related to you. Thus, failure is part of the experience, an additional challenge for you. If failure is your fault, you will always be discouraged, you will decrease confidence. And you will not respect you and think you deserve to be kept under the boot to anyone.