1. TAKING INITIATIVE & BUILDING
SELF-CONFIDENCE

2. 2
Module M2 Profiling women digital entrepreneurs
Competence
unit
U2.2 Building self-confidence
and initiative
Learning
outcome
Establish the keys to
taking initiative and self-
confidence
Type of
resource
PowerPoint Presentation
(PPT)
Type of
learning
Face-to-face
Resource title
Taking initiative & building self-
confidence
Learning
hours
1h
Contents
- What does take initiative mean and what does it need
- Strategies to develop your initiative
- Self-confidence: what is it and how can we build it
- The importance of self-efficacy and self-esteem
- 3-Steps to build self-confidence

3. TAKING INITIATIVE

4. 4
What does it mean
taking initiative:
1. doing things without being told
2. keep going when things get tough
3. taking advantage of opportunities
Acting, instead of reacting!
Source: https://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/initiative.htm, retrieved 17.03.2019
Source: image by Gerd Altmann from https://pixabay.com/

5. “ Researchers Michael Frese and Doris
Fay define initiative as "work
behavior characterized by its self-
starting nature, its proactive
approach, and by being persistent in
overcoming difficulties that arise in
pursuit of a goal.“
Source: https://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/initiative.htm, retrieved 17.03.2019
5

6. 6
So,
what do you think
you need
to take initiative?
Source: image by Gerd Altmann from https://pixabay.com/

7. HOW TO DEVELOP YOUR INITIATIVE (1)
7Source: https://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/initiative.htm, retrieved 17.03.2019
Develop YOUR plan
Once you know what you want to achieve, integrate your business
goals with your personal goals, so that you have something to
work towards.
The key to develope initiative is to set clear goals, and then to
work steadily towards achieving them.

8. HOW TO DEVELOP YOUR INITIATIVE (2)
8Source: https://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/initiative.htm, retrieved 17.03.2019
Spot opportunities and potential
improvements
People who show initiative often do so by spotting and acting on
opportunities that others have not noticed. They're curious about
their project/organization and how it works, and they keep their
minds open to new ideas and new possibilities.
You should always be on the lookout for areas in your
project/organization that could use improvement.

9. HOW TO DEVELOP YOUR INITIATIVE (3)
9Source: https://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/initiative.htm, retrieved 17.03.2019
Sense-check your ideas
Before you go head with your idea, stop and do some homework.
Think about the costs and risks associated with the idea. Where
risks or costs are more significant, consider preparing a business
case.
Make sure that you follow this through by doing your homework on
the idea. The more you have researched and considered your
ideas, the higher your chances of success will be.

10. HOW TO DEVELOP YOUR INITIATIVE (4)
10Source: https://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/initiative.htm, retrieved 17.03.2019
Develop rational persistence
Persistence is about moving forward even when you encounter
inertia or difficulty. People who show initiative often encounter
difficulties and setbacks along the way, so resilience and rational
persistence are essential if you want to achieve what you've set
out to do.
When you're persisting with your idea, you'll find things much
easier if you learn how to manage change effectively.

11. HOW TO DEVELOP YOUR INITIATIVE (5)
11Source: https://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/initiative.htm, retrieved 17.03.2019
Find balance
It's important to take initiative but it's just as important to be wise
in the way that you use it.
It‘s important to learn good decision-making techniques so that
you could better judge when an idea is good, and when it isn't.
You'll also want to develop your emotional intelligence skills,
because it's helpful to know how to read the emotions of others.
This sensitivity can help you further decide when to take initiative,
and when it's best to let things be.

12. HOW TO DEVELOP YOUR INITIATIVE (6)
12Source: https://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/initiative.htm, retrieved 17.03.2019
Build self-confidence
It can take courage and a strong sense of self to show initiative,
especially if you fear that people may disagree with your actions
or suggestions.
Setting small goals so you can achieve quick wins can be a good
strategy. And push yourself to do (positive) things that you'd
otherwise be scared to do – this will not only help you build your
self-confidence, but it will help you build the courage to
accomplish bigger, scarier tasks later on.

13. SELF-CONFIDENCE: WHAT IS
IT AND HOW CAN WE BUILD IT

14. 14
Source: image by rawpixel from https://pixabay.com/
Self- confidence:
the importance of
self-efficacy
It’s about achieving goals that
matter.
It's this type of confidence that
leads people to accept difficult
challenges and persist in the
face of setbacks.
Source: https://www.mindtools.com/selfconf.html, retrieved
18.03.2019

15. 15
Self- confidence:
the importance of
self-esteem
A general sense that we can cope
with what's going on in our lives
and that we have a right to be
happy.
Source: https://www.mindtools.com/selfconf.html, retrieved 18.03.2019
Source: image by 3cvpericias from https://pixabay.com/

16. STEPS TOWARDS SELF-CONFIDENCE
16
#1 Prepare for your
journey
Look at what you’ve already
achieved
Think about your strengths,
what is important to you
and where you want to go
Start managing your mind and
then commit yourself to
success
#2 Set out on your
journey
Build the knowledge you
need to succeed
Focus on the basics
Set small goals and achieve
them
Keep managing your mind
#3 Accelerate towards
success
Start stretching yourself,
make the goals a bit
bigger and the
challenges a bit
tougher.
But above all, keep
yourself grounded!
Source: https://www.mindtools.com/selfconf.html, retrieved 18.03.2019

17. LET’S REVIEW SOME CONCEPTS
Taking initiative
What does it mean and what does it take
How to develop your initiative:
 Develop your plan
 Spot opportunities and potential
improvements
 Sense-check your ideas
 Develop rational persistence
 Find balance
 Build self-confidence
Self-confidence
What is it and how can we buil it
The importance of self-efficacy and self-esteem
Steps towards self-confidence:
 Prepare for your journey
 Set out on your journey
 Accelerate towards success
17

18. This project has been funded with support from the European Commission.
This publication reflec ts the vi ews onl y of the aut hor , and the Commission cannot
be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein.
Project Number: 2018-1-UK01-KA202-047909