ini·tia·tive 
/ɪˈnɪʃətɪv/ noun
plural ini·tia·tives /ɪˈnɪʃətɪv/ noun 1 the initiative : the power or opportunity to do something before others do
▪ If you want to meet her, you're going to have to take the initiative and introduce yourself. ▪ The company has the opportunity to seize the initiative by getting its new products to the market before its competitors. ▪ By failing to get its products to the market on schedule, the company has lost the initiative (to its competitors). 2 [noncount] : the energy and desire that is needed to do something
▪ She has ability but lacks initiative. [=drive] ◊If you do something on your own initiative, you do it because you choose to, not because someone has told you to do it.
▪ I'm doing this on my own initiative. [=because I want to] ◊If you use your (own) initiative, you decide for yourself what to do instead of waiting to be told by someone else.
▪ You should use your own initiative to come up with a solution. 3 [count] : a plan or program that is intended to solve a problem
▪ The governor has proposed a new initiative to improve conditions in urban schools. ▪ anti-poverty initiatives
▪ If you want to meet her, you're going to have to take the initiative and introduce yourself. ▪ The company has the opportunity to seize the initiative by getting its new products to the market before its competitors. ▪ By failing to get its products to the market on schedule, the company has lost the initiative (to its competitors).
▪ She has ability but lacks initiative. [=drive] ◊If you do something on your own initiative, you do it because you choose to, not because someone has told you to do it.
▪ I'm doing this on my own initiative. [=because I want to] ◊If you use your (own) initiative, you decide for yourself what to do instead of waiting to be told by someone else.
▪ You should use your own initiative to come up with a solution.
▪ The governor has proposed a new initiative to improve conditions in urban schools. ▪ anti-poverty initiatives
