Initiative is the ability to take the lead, take charge when no one else will. 

When adversity strikes you need leaders on your team who will take the initiative to right the ship. A good leader/coach takes the initiative and refocuses the team when bad stuff is happening. Belief in the leaders initiative and vision, being a leader they trust, gets the action needed. 

A coach with initiative sees problems as they are developing. He makes a plan to stop them and acts. When no one else acts the leader must initiate change.