Definition of Proactive

"Proactive" describes the willingness to take matters into your own hands, rather than waiting for someone else to make things move forward. This behavior is the opposite of taking action only as a reaction to matters as they arise.

Be proactive. Image by Flickr.com, courtesy of Thomas Sly

History and Etymology

The term "proactive" is a fairly new term, first coined in 1933 in the field of psychology, according to the Online Etymology Dictionary. It is formed from the combination of "pro," which is Latin for "before or forward" and "active" from the Latin "activus" and "actus," which mean "a doing."

In Business

In business, proactive refers to those who are action-oriented people, who look ahead to see what they can to do positively affect the outcome of matters as they arise. Proactive means to recognize these opportunities, utilizing all of your given facilities to affect the end result.

Balancing Proactive and Reactive

While being reactive may often be nonproductive, sometimes a healthy balance between being proactive and reactive is necessary. Some matters deserve preparatory attention, while others are best served after observing their effects.

Effects

Proactive behavior is also time- and cost-saving behavior. For example, maintaining and fixing something while it is still working will save the cost of buying a new one once its broken after neglect.

Synonyms and Antonyms

Proactive is synonymous with take charge, enthusiastic and spirited. Its antonyms are docile, inert, passive and inactive.

References

• Proactive Definition
• Proactive Etymology

Resources

• Be Proactive