Being Proactive Vs. Reactive
In the business world, you are taught that you should be proactive rather than reactive to become successful. Being proactive is a skill that takes time and effort, however, to perfect.
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Definitions
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Being proactive means that you are planning ahead and anticipating problems. Being reactive means that you are waiting for problems to appear before addressing them.
Pros
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Being proactive can help eliminate problems before they appear and can make execution of your tasks more efficient. Being reactive can simplify the planning process, allowing you to act faster.
Cons
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Being proactive lengthens the planning process and can lead to overplanning as all potential options are analyzed. Being reactive can lead to unforeseen problems in execution that may require extensive time and effort to solve or correct.
Expert Insight
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Leadership theorists such as John Maxwell and Ken Blanchard (see Resources) teach the importance of being proactive while maintaining a willingness to act. A balance of proper planning and effective execution is required for success.
Effects
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A well-planned, proactive solution is more likely to succeed and less likely to create excess stress. With contingencies already in place, a problem faced in execution is much more easily addressed than if reactionary contingencies have to be developed as problems occur.
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