Workplace Readiness Skill
Personal Qualities and Abilities
Activity Sheet
Skill
1 Taking Initiative and Self-Direction
It is often not enough for us to wait around for someone to tell us what to
do. It is our responsibility to do what needs to be done without being asked.
Employers look for employees who show initiative and self-direction by
attending to their responsibilities. If you see something that needs to be
done, do it!
Description of Taking Initiative and Self-Direction
Taking initiative and being self-directed means to initiate or look for ways to
help and accomplish tasks without being told to by someone else.
Examples of showing initiative:
• Complete a chore without being told.
• Independently ask for work when you don’t have a lot to do.
Menu of Activities
These activities are designed to help families discuss and practice taking
initiative. Choose one or more activities to complete with your child.
Activity 1: Taking Initiative is Cool
1. Watch Taking Initiative is Cool (youtu.be/ALtsSru4jzE) with your child.
2. Provide examples of when you took initiative at home and at work. Discuss
ways your child can take initiative at home.
3. Together, go through your home and identify things that need to be done
or ways your child can demonstrate initiative. Describe WHY these things
are important to do.
―― Examples: taking out the trash, washing dishes, picking up clothes,
getting the mail, or turning the lights off in rooms not being used.
4. From those tasks that were identified, have your child make a list of three
chores or activities they can be responsible for and set a date and time for
when each activity will be completed.
―― To track the chores, try an app like ChoreMonster
(bit.ly/choremonster-app). All smartphones should have a Notes app
that your child can use to track their chores.
Skill 1: Taking Initiative and Self-Direction Page 9
Activity 2: For Hire
1. Make a “For Hire” list of chores that need to be completed around the
house. Assign payment or reinforcement to each chore. Payment can
be something that is reinforcing like money, a new book, or time on the
computer.
―― Try Our Home (ourhomeapp.com) for an app to track chores.
2. When your child wants to earn some type of payment, have them check
the “For Hire” list and negotiate their desire to be “hired” for specific jobs.
Activity 3: Scavenger Hunt
1. Tell your child they are going on a scavenger hunt for items they need for
their day.
2. Have each family member hold onto an item that is reinforcing or needed
(Wifi password, book, keys, game, hat, etc.). Make sure the family members
aren’t all hanging out in one area so your child needs to search a bit for
each member of the family.
3. Have your child go on the hunt. In order to complete the hunt, your child
take the initiative to seek out each family member. If your child requests
the item from the correct person then that family member will give it to
them. If not, the item will be held “captive” for the rest of the day.
4. To make this activity a bit more challenging, set a limit of time they have
to complete the hunt. For example, you may tell your child they have 30
minutes to get all of the required items. It can be easy to get distracted
with each item instead of searching for the next item on the list!
Reflection
Review the questions with your child and respond together after completing
the activities.
• Did this information help your child better understand taking initiative and
self-direction?
• What was easy or hard about learning and practicing this skill?
• Why is this skill important to use at home and at work?
• How do we continue to practice this skill in the home and in the community?
• What additional information or resources do I need to continue to practice
this skill with my child?
CenterOnTransition.org
The contents were developed under a contract (881-APE62524-H027A190107) from
the Virginia Department of Education. An equal opportunity affirmative action university.
