How To Be Proactive At Work

The adjective “proactive” is used to describe a person who can get things finished. Controlling a situation by causing something to happen rather than waiting to respond to it after it happens is being proactive. If you are preemptive, you make things happen, instead of waiting for them to happen to you.

Active means “doing something”. The pre-fix “pro” means before, so if you are proactive, you are ready before something happens. The opposite of proactive is reactive. Reactive people respond to a situation rather than creating or controlling one. In reactive development, one solves matters as they arise whereas in proactive development, you solve matters before they become an issue.

At the workplace, your actions regulate what kind of a person you indicate to be. Do you counter the events happening around you or do you take initiative to prepare for, participate in and/or control the event itself? Do you like to play an active or a passive role? There is no right or wrong in being active or proactive, but in my opinion, proactive people are more valuable in today’s world. They don’t just sit and watch events unfold; they take a stand, chase problems and find answers. 

Proactive people are constantly moving forward at the workplace and are successful in the pursuit. Pro-activity in an individual is a reflection of the way these people think and act, rapidly adapt and flexible to change. Managers are looking for more proactive people or at least those who demonstrate a high degree of proactive mentality.  

Here is my 5 step system to help you become more proactive at the workplace.

Plan: Plan for the future and think on your feet as if the future was right in front of you as your present. 

Predict: Develop foresight and anticipate problems and events. Understand how it works; recognize routines, daily cycles and practices in the business. Use your creativity and logic and determine patterns that are anticipatory of the situation. Be alert and smart at the workplace.

Participate: It is not good enough to know the logic; it is also vital to get involved, take initiative and become part of the solution. 

Perform: Taking ownership of your performance means holding yourself accountable. Stand behind your decisions and have the conviction to complete the work now. Don’t procrastinate, it just loses the focus completely.

Prevent: Undoubtedly, there will be obstacles that exert untimely stress and needs to be overcome assertively. Don’t allow these obstacles to become roadblocks. Take control and confront challenges before they overwhelm you.