initiative
Loading your saved state.
initiative
The ability or willingness to act on one's own motivation and without external instruction in order to start a task or solve a problem.
Der Arbeitgeber erwartet von seinen Mitarbeitern ein hohes Maß an Eigeninitiative.
The employer expects a high degree of initiative from his employees.
The word is made up of 'eigen' (own) and 'Initiative' (initiative). So it literally describes an initiative that comes from oneself, that is, one's 'own' initiative.
Für diese Position suchen wir jemanden mit viel Eigeninitiative.
For this position, we are looking for someone with a lot of initiative.
'Eigeninitiative' (initiative) is often used with the verbs 'zeigen' (to show), 'ergreifen' (to take), or 'haben' (to have). In job advertisements, it is often 'erwartet' (expected) or 'gefordert' (required).
Er hat bei dem Projekt große Eigeninitiative gezeigt und neue Ideen eingebracht.
He showed great initiative in the project and contributed new ideas.
'Eigeninitiative' (initiative) is very often used in the fixed phrase 'ein (hohes/gewisses) Maß an Eigeninitiative' (a high/certain degree of initiative). This emphasizes the extent of independence required.
Ein gewisses Maß an Eigeninitiative ist in diesem Job unerlässlich.
A certain degree of initiative is essential in this job.
This word belongs mainly in professional and work-related contexts. It is often found in employment references, résumés, and job descriptions.
In ihrem Zeugnis wurde ihre ausgeprägte Eigeninitiative besonders gelobt.
In her reference, her strong initiative was especially praised.
commitment / engagement
Engagement refers to active personal commitment and can also be shown when carrying out assigned tasks. Eigeninitiative requires someone to start acting on their own, without external instruction. Someone who carries out an assigned task with particular care shows Engagement; someone who identifies the task themselves and gets started shows Eigeninitiative.
Lena zeigte Eigeninitiative, als sie ohne Auftrag mit der Organisation des Sommerfestes begann.
Lena showed initiative when she began organizing the summer festival without being asked.
Lena zeigte großes Engagement, als sie die übertragene Organisation des Sommerfestes zuverlässig übernahm.
Lena showed great commitment when she reliably took charge of organizing the summer festival, which had been assigned to her.
