What It Means To Take A Proactive Approach

As self-aware beings, humans are the only animals on earth that consider the way they think and act. Therefore, our thoughts and actions don’t have to control us because we have the power to revise them. In short, humans can choose the way they approach life, rather than just being at the whim of emotions or biological reactions.

Over the course of my career, I’ve learned how to use self-reflection to revise my approach in my professional life. Taking control of myself has benefited me so much that I even wrote a book to help others do it too. I know I wouldn’t be where I am today without embracing a proactive approach.

What’s your approach? There are a few different ways you can approach life—proactively, reactively, or nihilistically. Life usually isn’t black and white, and often people use a combination of these three techniques, changing their strategy depending on the situation. For the purposes of this article, let’s focus on our professional lives as the circumstance for determining your most used method. Which of the following sounds most like you?

Someone who takes a proactive approach is more likely to:

• Be a self-starter. Proactive individuals say (or show) what they bring to the table without someone having to ask them. They are constantly trying to improve future outcomes by acting now.
• Keep a running action list. Those who utilize a proactive approach readily state what they are doing and what still needs to be done. They also know how to communicate their boundaries about what they are not willing to do.
• Prepare for the worst. Proactive people anticipate obstacles that might arise so they can be better prepared to quell objections or concerns that could stall progress.

I have chosen to be proactive in any situation possible because I’ve found it provides the best results, especially for my personality type. By preparing for multiple obstacles and outcomes, you can be more in control when a shift is needed, or a setback presents itself.

Those who choose a reactive approach are more likely to:

• Handle things in the moment. Rather than trying to prepare for multiple outcomes, reactive individuals simply handle things as they arise.
• Adapt as needed. As change occurs, reactive people will either pivot or acclimate themselves to find the best way forward.
• Wait for constructive criticism. When feedback is given, those with a reactive approach will adjust their actions as needed. But they don’t spend much time anticipating what that feedback might be or preemptively amending their behavior.

The above are examples of a reactive individual operating with clarity and composure when faced with what could be uncomfortable situations. The reality of adopting a reactive approach is that it’s easy to be defensive, unprepared, frazzled, and emotional when faced with difficulty. If you decide to adopt a reactive style, you must be hyper aware of your responses, how they might land on others, and their potential outcomes. Considering all these factors on the spot is challenging if not impossible, so chances are you won’t always achieve your desired result.

If a person has decided to take a nihilistic approach, they are more likely to:

• Disregard feedback. They continue to act in the same manner as before.
• Be avoidant. Individuals taking a nihilistic approach avoid conflict, criticism, and decision-making whenever possible.

Of course, this laissez-faire attitude will not yield the best results. Individuals who adopt this approach are more likely to stagnate in their careers.

Putting the “pro” in proactive.

If you hadn’t noticed, my favorite type of approach is a proactive one. This approach benefits both the person adopting it and the people around them. Proactive individuals are self-aware and can alert others to their weaknesses or blind spots upfront. This keeps the individual accountable for minimizing their flaws and alerts teammates of possible sticking points that may arise.

Another positive to taking a proactive approach is the ability to manage objections as they arise. Because you’ve thought about what objections might come up, you can also prepare for what to say to soothe concerns. Lastly, just by demonstrating that you are a proactive individual, you show others your value. A proactive, can-do attitude is a substantial part of achieving any goal, no matter how monumental or miniscule.