Newton’s First Law of Motion states that “A body at rest stays at rest, and a body in motion stays in motion, unless it is acted on by an external force”.

As part of his general all-round cleverness, Sir Isaac Newton was, among many other things, a shrewd businessman: appointed to the sinecure of Master of the Royal Mint, he applied his brilliant mind to reforming the whole system of coinage.

So it is tempting to wonder whether his experience as a manager ever prompted him to apply his Laws of Physics to his dealings with his subordinates.

It can certainly be frustrating when employees seem incapable of doing anything unless and until told to do it – and when they keep on doing the same thing until told not to do it.

This lack of initiative is – predictably – more pronounced in the public sector, but most private sector bosses have their own horror stories.

Yet, to be fair, an employee is under no obligation to show the same degree of initiative as an entrepreneur. If he was, he would be an entrepreneur, not an employee.

If an employer wants to encourage initiative among his employees, it is down to him to do it. He must make it clear that he desires it. He must reward it – and, more difficult, he must refrain from punishing those who take risks which do not work out.

Of course, initiative is not desirable in all businesses. Sometimes all you need are employees who do what you say, no more, no less. If your business depends on the reliable performance of repetitive tasks, you have to know that they will be performed without deviation

It is the entrepreneur’s responsibility to make it clear to his employees whether he expects initiative or predictability. It is a bad workman who blames his tools and a bad leader who blames his followers.