on one's own initiative
主动地; 自发地 without anyone else ordering one to do sth, or suggesting that one should do it
He went to see the headmaster on his own initiative.他主动去看望校长。

take the initiative
带头; 倡导; 发起 take the first step in an undertaking
The captain took the initiative and led the soldiers out of the danger area.上尉主动带领战士撤出了危险区。

My secretary is perfectly competent, but she doesn't have much initiative.我的秘书完全能够胜任她的工作,只是她进取心不强。
Don't keep asking me for advice, use your own initiative.不要总是向我征求意见,发挥一下你们自己的决断能力吧。
Because of a stupid mistake, we lost the initiative in the negotiations; the other side has the initiative now.由于一个愚蠢的错误,我们失去了谈判中的主动权,现在是对方掌握主动权。
The government is making some fresh initiatives to try to resolve the dispute.政府正主动采取一些措施,试图解决这一争端。