Do you know what it means to be proactive? It’s one of the most highly valued qualities in companies, and whenever we go for a job interview, that’s what they try to identify in us. When we talk about a proactive professional, we’re talking about creativity, motivation to achieve business objectives and to grow within the organisation, and, ultimately, about taking the initiative to drive the productivity by implementing measures proposed by the workers themselves.
Is proactivity something you’re born with or something you develop?
If you’ve ever wondered how to be more proactive, or why some of your colleagues always seem so positive and energetic at work, there are undoubtedly several factors at play. Some are innate, whilst others are not quite so much.
Generally speaking, proactive people share qualities such as these:
- They are self-employed.
- They have a strong sense of responsibility.
- They are empathetic, which means they’re good at working in a team.
- They show initiative and are action-oriented.
- They are outgoing and confident.
- It doesn’t take them much effort to make quick decisions or pivot.
- They tend to adopt a positive attitude in times of crisis or are better at spotting opportunities.
- They are creative, which helps them find alternative solutions when things cannot be achieved by conventional means.
- They know how to organise their time.
I’m sure you’ve got plenty of these qualities too, but if there’s one you’re not quite so strong in, the good news is that you can work on it in your day-to-day life.
On the other hand, if you decide to set yourself the challenge of improving your proactivity at work, you should be aware that the cornerstone of this is motivation; after all, when a person is highly motivated by their own interests, they move towards their goals of their own accord. This can be intrinsic or extrinsic; let’s look at what each one involves.
Intrinsic and extrinsic motivation – would you know how to tell them apart?
The intrinsic motivation refers to the internal, personal drive that arises from the satisfaction and pleasure we derive from carrying out an activity for its own sake. In other words, we are motivated by the enjoyment, curiosity or inherent interest in the activity. The reward comes from within ourselves.
On the other hand, the extrinsic motivation It stems from external factors and is not directly related to the activity itself. Rather than seeking intrinsic satisfaction, we are motivated by external rewards or consequences, such as prizes, recognition, money or avoiding punishment.
As you can see, the best way to maintain or boost your productivity at work is to tap into your intrinsic motivation, as this means you won’t have to rely on external factors to feel good about your job
What can you do to be more proactive at work?
Although motivation is the key to being proactive – and this is achieved, above all, through a job you enjoy, one that gives you a sense of fulfilment, where there is a good atmosphere amongst colleagues and where you are happy with the working conditions – you too can do your bit to feel more proactive.
Do this for 21 days and develop the habit of being proactive:
- Set clear goals: Set specific goals and objectives that you would like to achieve in your work. This will help you to have a sense of direction and will motivate you to take action to achieve them.
- Plan ahead and organise: Identify any potential obstacles or problems that might arise in your work and plan how to tackle them in advance. This will enable you to be prepared and act quickly when they do arise.
- Take the initiative: Don’t wait to be told what to do. Identify areas for improvement, put forward ideas and solutions, and take the initiative to bring about positive changes in your work.
- Prioritise tasks: learn to prioritise your tasks and allocate the appropriate time and resources to them. This will help you focus on the most important activities and prevent urgent tasks from distracting you from your long-term goals.
- Organise your time: Use time-management techniques, such as the Pomodoro Technique, to work more productively and efficiently. Divide your time into blocks and devote focused periods to specific tasks, avoiding distractions.
- Learn to say «no»: Learn to set boundaries and say «no» when necessary. If your workload is too heavy or if a task isn’t in line with your goals, it’s important to be able to decline or delegate appropriately.
- Encourages proactive communication: Communicate proactively with your team and your line managers. Share your ideas, concerns and suggestions for improvement openly and constructively. This will help drive change and foster a collaborative atmosphere.
- Learn from your mistakes: Instead of seeing mistakes as failures, view them as learning opportunities. Analyse your mistakes, identify ways to improve, and apply that knowledge to future situations.
- Keep a positive attitude: Cultivate a positive attitude towards your work and the tasks you carry out. Keep your focus on solutions and don’t let obstacles get you down. A positive attitude will help you stay motivated and proactive.
And speaking of motivation… we hope this post has helped you to keep growing and striving towards your goals with enthusiasm and a proactive attitude. We look forward to seeing you in the next Educa.Pro post!
