Glossary entry (derived from question below)
English term or phrase:
(to show/take) initiative
English answer:
to be proactive
Added to glossary by
Veronika Neuhold
May 30, 2008 21:06
15 yrs ago
4 viewers *
English term
Austria
We Make Words Work for You
Native in: German (Variant: Austrian) 
Works in: English to German, Spanish to German, German to English
initiative
English
Bus/Financial
Economics
Personalwesen
A mid year review form (translated by me as "Bewertungsbogen für ein Mitarbeitergespräch zur Jahresmitte") contains a list of competencies like "customer-oriented", "result-driven", etc.
Also the term "initiative" appears.
I would like to know if you can use "initiative" as an adjective not only in the meaning of "introductory/beginning", but also in the meaning of "proactive, ready to embark on new ventures".
Websters Online does not include the latter meaning.
The author of the text is US-American, so perhaps this obvious Germanism is accepted in (parts of) the United States.
Thanks in advance for your valuable inputs.
Also the term "initiative" appears.
I would like to know if you can use "initiative" as an adjective not only in the meaning of "introductory/beginning", but also in the meaning of "proactive, ready to embark on new ventures".
Websters Online does not include the latter meaning.
The author of the text is US-American, so perhaps this obvious Germanism is accepted in (parts of) the United States.
Thanks in advance for your valuable inputs.
Responses
+1
1 hr
Marian Greenfield
Native in English
&
English
Over 30 years in financial translation
Native in: English
Works in: Spanish to English, Portuguese to English, English
Related KudoZ points
:
19
Selected
initiative is not an adjective, but we (in the U.S.) do often use it in performance reviews...
as in "x is a self starter and takes the initiative;
Note from asker:
| OK, thanks. Probably it's also meant as a noun in my text. |
3 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "Thanks, once again, for confirming that "initiative" has to be a noun in my text (performance review). It can be translated as "Eigeninitiative" into German."
23 mins
Jack Doughty
United Kingdom
United Kingdom
Native in English
&
English
United Kingdom
Translator since 1953
Native in: English
Works in: Russian to English, German to English, English
Related KudoZ points
:
41
enterprising
No, you can't use "initiative" as an adjective in the meaning you want. I think "enterprising" roughly covers it.
Note from asker:
| Thanks for confirming. |
+3
2 hrs
make decisions and take action; control
Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English, 2003
initiative NOUN
1. DECISIONS - the ability to make decisions and take action without waiting for someone to tell you what to do: I wish my son show more initiative. // Don't keep asking me for advice. Use your initiative. // Lt. Carlos was not obeing orders. He acted on his own initiative (= he was not told what to do).
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3. CONTROL - "the initiative" if you have or take the initiative, you are in a position to control a situation and decide what to do next: Why don't you take the initiative and ask him out? // Politicians need to seize the initiative from the terorists. // The government must not lose the initiative in the fight against terorism.
So, you may tell about someone that he shows initiative, meaning being proactive.
proactive → adjective
(of a person or action) creating or controlling a situation rather than just responding to it after it has happened: employers must take a proactive approach to equal pay.
The Oxford Dictionary of English (revised edition).
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Note added at 2 hrs (2008-05-30 23:45:08 GMT)
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*say about
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Note added at 6 hrs (2008-05-31 03:48:34 GMT)
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All three answers are right: 'initiative' is not an adjective, but it can be used as a noun in an expression to describe someone as proactive.
initiative NOUN
1. DECISIONS - the ability to make decisions and take action without waiting for someone to tell you what to do: I wish my son show more initiative. // Don't keep asking me for advice. Use your initiative. // Lt. Carlos was not obeing orders. He acted on his own initiative (= he was not told what to do).
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3. CONTROL - "the initiative" if you have or take the initiative, you are in a position to control a situation and decide what to do next: Why don't you take the initiative and ask him out? // Politicians need to seize the initiative from the terorists. // The government must not lose the initiative in the fight against terorism.
So, you may tell about someone that he shows initiative, meaning being proactive.
proactive → adjective
(of a person or action) creating or controlling a situation rather than just responding to it after it has happened: employers must take a proactive approach to equal pay.
The Oxford Dictionary of English (revised edition).
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 2 hrs (2008-05-30 23:45:08 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
*say about
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Note added at 6 hrs (2008-05-31 03:48:34 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
All three answers are right: 'initiative' is not an adjective, but it can be used as a noun in an expression to describe someone as proactive.
Note from asker:
| Thanks for providing the references! |
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
Gary D
: also it is to take the lead and do something forthright, before someone else, step up the the mark and take control.
37 mins
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Thank you, Gary.
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| agree |
Trudy Peters
17 hrs
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Thank you.
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| agree |
Phong Le
5 days
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