---
title: "FLY: Taking Initiative"
artifact: "highlights"
resource_person: "Dr. Aparna Rajagopal, with Dr. Aruna Bhargava"
resource_person_role: "Dr. Aparna Rajagopal is Director, Course Development at the Competitiveness Mindset Institute (CMI); Dr. Aruna Bhargava is a CMI Advisor, former psychologist, and former professor of sociology."
vertical: "careers"
module: "Career Progression"
lesson: "FLY: Taking Initiative"
lesson_key: "fly-taking-initiative"
source: "GuruSetu original"
source_channel: "GuruSetu"
---
# FLY: Taking Initiative: Highlights

**Resource person:** Dr. Aparna Rajagopal, with Dr. Aruna Bhargava - Dr. Aparna Rajagopal is Director, Course Development at the Competitiveness Mindset Institute (CMI); Dr. Aruna Bhargava is a CMI Advisor, former psychologist, and former professor of sociology.

1. Initiative means acting on a need or opportunity before an instruction arrives.
2. It can improve your own work, a team or a community through a small, practical step.
3. A habitual *chalta hai* response lowers standards and encourages apathy.
4. Fear can stop useful action. Avoiding every risk also carries a cost.
5. Leadership needs direction and movement. Initiative starts the movement.
6. Ask what proportionate, responsible step you can take now.