What does being Proactive truly means?
Stephen R. Covey in his bestselling book, “The 7 Habits Of Highly Effective People” wrote about something truly astonishing called as a “Proactive Model”:
Covey starts by reiterating something which is a common knowledge, that we as human beings respond to stimulus:
Stimulus in simple words could be defined as an event that evokes a response or a set of responses from human beings. So when we consider our social environment, a lot is going on. With regards to our professional and personal life, there are multiple ups and downs we experience. Often, in the face of adversity, individuals “React” rather than “Respond”. No matter how well versed we are with this phrase, most of us still fall into the trap of reacting.
Reactive people are ALWAYS affected by their environment. In terms of work, they are the first ones to find themselves in the middle of conflicts with their co-workers, superiors and subordinates. When they are working on challenging projects or on critical deadlines, they can easily get demotivated. Why? Because they find it difficult to suppress their impulse. In words of Covey himself, “reactive people are driven by feelings, by circumstances, by conditions, by their environment”.
So let’s talk about what Covey proposed, and how it differs greatly from our usual understanding:
A proactive model suggests that while we would still be responding to our stimulus, however what we need to understand, is that in between we have the “Freedom To Choose” our response to that stimulus, if we make a conscious effort. Such individuals are “Proactive” in nature. In words of Covey, “Proactive people are still influenced by external stimuli, whether physical, social, or psychological. But their response to the stimuli, conscious or unconscious, is a value-based choice or response.” Unlike reactive individuals, proactive people are driven by values and not by their impulse. They are mindful in their approach. They carefully weigh their options before taking a call.
Proactive individuals: Invest their time and energy on things which are in their control. They focus on creating value, finding solutions, and increasing their positive energy so it can benefit others around them.
Reactive individuals: Spends his/her time and energy in blaming people and their own circumstances, feeling victimized and in turn, enlarging their negative aura which can have an adverse effect on others.
Is it difficult to figure out that out of these two, who would be an asset to their organizations, communities and family and who would not?
In simple words, our freedom to choose our response can make a huge difference. In context of work, we often associate the word “Proactive” with taking initiatives. However, if we wish to expand our understanding of the term, then we’ll realize that it means “taking responsibility of our own lives” and subordinating our feelings to values. How often do organizations or leaders try and create a culture where they are truly able to establish a sense of responsibility among their employees, rather than mechanically demanding results day after day, hence creating a culture of monotony, which in turn can take away the passion and desire of their employees? How often do we, as employees, try to change our attitude and outlook towards our work, and not just treat it as a mere organizational task but as our responsibility to be more contributive?
Covey stated in his book, “Businesses, community groups, organizations of every kind can be proactive. They can combine the creativity and resourcefulness of proactive individuals to create a proactive culture within the organization. The organization does not have to be at the mercy of the environment; it can take the initiative to accomplish the shared values and purposes of the individuals involved”
Hence, it is important that we self-reflect. Both budding and experienced professionals can benefit greatly from an honest self assessment and then working on improving their efficacy. More than having a strong technical skill set, it is how rigorously we work on ourselves, how we view things around us and how do we respond to events in our environment that determines how far we can go. Organizations need to do the same. When creating/refining their culture or when hiring individuals, it is important that they focus on these traits. A mutual effort can go a long way in ensuring success and sustainability.
