Initiative is a valuable skill for employees in any organization. It means being proactive, taking charge of tasks or situations, and seeking solutions without waiting for instructions. Employees who demonstrate initiative often excel in their roles, contribute positively to their team’s success, and increase their potential for career advancement.

Performance Review Questions: Initiative

1. Does the employee take on tasks without being asked?
2. Does the employee go above and beyond their job duties?
3. Does the employee come up with creative solutions to problems?
4. Does the employee take ownership of their work and responsibilities?
5. Does the employee take the initiative to learn new skills and improve their performance?
6. Does the employee take the initiative to provide feedback and suggestions for improvement?

Based on the answers to these questions, you can assign a rating. For example, if the employee consistently takes on tasks without being asked and comes up with creative solutions to problems, they may receive a high rating for initiative. Conversely, if the employee only does what is required of them and does not take the initiative to learn new skills or provide feedback, they may receive a lower rating. (It’s important to provide specific examples and feedback to the employee to help them understand how they can improve.)

Related: Best Performance Review Examples for 48 Key Skills

2000+ Performance Review Phrases: The Complete List (Performance Feedback Examples)

Initiative Performance Review Phrases and Paragraphs Examples

5 – Outstanding

Example Phrases

• Consistently thinks ahead and proactively addresses potential issues
• Takes on challenging tasks and drives them to completion without prompting
• Demonstrates exceptional leadership skills in developing innovative solutions
• Anticipates obstacles and devises effective strategies to overcome them
• Actively seeks opportunities to improve processes and enhance team performance
• Inspires others to take initiative through their exemplary actions and positive attitude
• Demonstrates a strong sense of ownership and accountability for achieving goals
• Proactively shares knowledge and guides team members to foster their growth
• Exhibits a keen ability to identify and capitalize on emerging opportunities
• Consistently goes above and beyond to deliver exceptional results
• Displays remarkable foresight in planning and executing projects
• Encourages and empowers team members to take calculated risks and explore new ideas
• Demonstrates a proactive approach to problem-solving, preventing issues before they arise
• Leads by example, setting high standards for initiative and inspiring others to follow
• Continuously seeks feedback and proactively incorporates it to drive personal and team improvement
• Proactively collaborates with cross-functional teams to drive organizational success
• Takes the lead in creating a positive and motivated work environment
• Demonstrates exceptional initiative in learning new skills and applying them to enhance performance
• Proactively identifies and addresses skill gaps within the team, facilitating training and development
• Consistently takes on additional responsibilities and delivers outstanding results without being asked

Example Paragraph

“Jane consistently demonstrates an outstanding level of initiative. She is always thinking ahead to identify and address potential problems before they become critical. Her willingness to take on challenging tasks without being asked and her exceptional leadership skills when developing innovative solutions set her apart from her peers and contribute significantly to the team’s success.”

4 – Exceeds Expectations

Example Phrases

• Frequently seeks additional responsibilities and opportunities to contribute
• Proactively identifies issues and develops solutions independently
• Demonstrates strong problem-solving skills and a commitment to continuous improvement
• Takes initiative to streamline processes and increase efficiency
• Consistently takes on new challenges and delivers high-quality results
• Exhibits a proactive approach to learning and applying new skills
• Actively participates in team discussions and contributes valuable ideas
• Demonstrates leadership by guiding and mentoring team members
• Proactively communicates progress, obstacles, and solutions to stakeholders
• Takes ownership of projects and sees them through to successful completion
• Anticipates potential roadblocks and develops contingency plans
• Proactively seeks feedback and incorporates it to improve performance
• Demonstrates initiative in collaborating with other teams to achieve common goals
• Consistently goes beyond job requirements to support team and organizational objectives
• Proactively shares knowledge and best practices with colleagues
• Takes initiative to organize and lead team-building activities
• Demonstrates a strong work ethic and sets a positive example for others
• Proactively identifies opportunities for self-improvement and pursues them
• Takes initiative to represent the team and organization in external events and meetings
• Consistently delivers high-quality work ahead of deadlines

Example Paragraph

“Tom consistently exceeds expectations when it comes to initiative. He frequently seeks out additional responsibilities and opportunities to contribute to the team. His ability to proactively identify issues and develop solutions without waiting for direction demonstrates his strong problem-solving skills and commitment to continuous improvement.”

3 – Meets Expectations

Example Phrases

• Regularly demonstrates initiative in taking on new tasks and responsibilities
• Works independently to resolve issues and complete projects
• Adapts to changing priorities and displays a positive attitude under pressure
• Takes initiative to seek clarification and guidance when needed
• Meets deadlines and delivers quality work
• Communicates status updates and potential challenges
• Demonstrates a willingness to learn and apply new skills
• Actively participates in team meetings and contributes ideas
• Takes initiative to assist team members when needed
• Follows through on commitments and takes ownership of assigned tasks
• Seeks feedback to identify areas for improvement
• Demonstrates initiative in maintaining a clean and organized work environment
• Takes initiative to stay current with industry trends and best practices
• Adheres to company policies and procedures
• Identifies opportunities to improve personal performance
• Demonstrates initiative in promoting a positive team culture
• Takes initiative to document processes and share knowledge with others
• Meets performance goals and objectives
• Seeks opportunities to contribute to cross-functional projects
• Demonstrates initiative in maintaining open communication with supervisor

Example Paragraph

“Sue meets expectations when demonstrating initiative. She regularly takes on new tasks and responsibilities without being asked and works independently to resolve any issues that may arise. Sue adapts well to changing priorities and maintains a positive attitude even under pressure.”

2 – Needs Improvement

Example Phrases

• Occasionally takes initiative but may need guidance to complete tasks
• Can be proactive at times but struggles to maintain consistency
• Needs to demonstrate greater independence and problem-solving skills
• Requires frequent reminders to take on new responsibilities
• Struggles to adapt to changing priorities and may become overwhelmed
• Needs improvement in communicating progress and challenges
• Hesitates to seek clarification or guidance when needed
• Participation in team meetings and discussions is limited
• Needs encouragement to assist team members and contribute to team goals
• Sometimes fails to follow through on commitments or take ownership of tasks
• Rarely seeks feedback to identify areas for improvement
• Needs to take more initiative in maintaining a clean and organized work environment
• Shows limited interest in staying current with industry trends and best practices
• Occasionally deviates from company policies and procedures
• Needs to be more proactive in identifying opportunities for personal growth
• Struggles to promote a positive team culture and may engage in negative behaviors
• Needs improvement in documenting processes and sharing knowledge with others
• Inconsistently meets performance goals and objectives
• Rarely seeks opportunities to contribute to cross-functional projects
• Needs to improve communication and keep supervisor informed of progress and challenges

Example Paragraph

“Bob’s initiative needs improvement. While he occasionally takes it upon himself to start new tasks, he often requires guidance to see them through to completion. He can be proactive at times, but struggles with consistency. Bob should work on developing his independence and problem-solving skills to boost his initiative.”

1 – Unacceptable

Example Phrases

• Rarely shows initiative, often waiting for direction before taking action
• Demonstrates a lack of independence and problem-solving ability
• Frequently resists taking on new tasks or embraces change
• Consistently fails to take initiative, even when given clear guidance
• Struggles to adapt to change and becomes easily overwhelmed by new priorities
• Fails to communicate progress, challenges, or seek assistance when needed
• Avoids seeking clarification or guidance, leading to errors or incomplete work
• Rarely participates in team meetings or contributes ideas
• Demonstrates an unwillingness to assist team members or support team goals
• Consistently fails to follow through on commitments or take ownership of tasks
• Does not seek feedback or shows resistance to constructive criticism
• Neglects to maintain a clean and organized work environment
• Shows no interest in staying current with industry trends or best practices
• Frequently disregards company policies and procedures
• Demonstrates a lack of effort in identifying opportunities for personal growth
• Actively contributes to a negative team culture through unproductive behaviors
• Fails to document processes or share knowledge, hindering team performance
• Consistently falls short of meeting performance goals and objectives
• Shows no initiative in contributing to cross-functional projects or collaborations
• Frequently fails to communicate with supervisor, leading to misalignment and confusion

Example Paragraph

“Mary’s initiative is unacceptable, as she rarely shows any drive to take charge of tasks or situations. She often waits for direction before taking action and consistently demonstrates a lack of independence and problem-solving ability. Mary also frequently resists taking on new tasks and has difficulty embracing change.”