Do you know what it means to be proactive? It’s one of the most valued qualities in companies, and whenever we go to a job interview, recruiters try to identify it in us. When we talk about a proactive professional, we’re talking about creativity, motivation to achieve business goals and personal growth within the organization, and ultimately, having the initiative to boost productivity by taking actions that come from the employee themselves.
Is proactivity born or made?
If you’ve ever wondered how to be more proactive or why some of your colleagues always seem full of energy and positivity at work, several factors are likely at play — some innate and others not so much.
In general, proactive people share qualities such as:
- They are autonomous.
- They have a strong sense of responsibility.
- They are empathetic, which makes them good at teamwork.
- They are initiative-driven and action-oriented.
- They are outgoing and confident.
- They don’t struggle to make quick decisions or pivot when necessary.
- They tend to maintain a positive attitude in times of crisis and see opportunities more clearly.
- They are creative, which helps them find alternative solutions when something doesn’t work through conventional means.
- They know how to organize their time.
Surely, you also have many of these qualities, but if there’s one you’re not as strong in, the good news is that you can work on it in your daily life.
On the other hand, if you set yourself the goal of improving your proactivity at work, you should know that the key foundation for this is motivation. When a person is highly motivated by their own interests, they naturally move toward their goals. This motivation can be intrinsic or extrinsic—let’s see what each one means.
Intrinsic and extrinsic motivation — could you tell them apart?
Intrinsic motivation refers to the internal, personal drive that arises from the satisfaction and pleasure we get from performing an activity itself. In other words, we feel motivated by enjoyment, curiosity, or inherent interest in the activity. The reward comes from within us.
On the other hand, extrinsic motivation comes from external factors and is not directly related to the activity itself. Instead of seeking internal satisfaction, we are motivated by external rewards or consequences, such as prizes, recognition, money, or avoiding punishment.
As you can see, the ideal way to maintain or increase your productivity at work is to activate your intrinsic motivation. This way, you won’t depend on external factors to feel good in your role.
What can you do to improve your proactivity at work?
Although motivation is the key pillar of being proactive—and this is achieved mainly by doing a job you enjoy, that fulfills you, with a good work environment and satisfactory conditions—you can also do your part to feel more proactive.
Do this for 21 days and build the habit of proactivity:
- Set clear goals: define specific goals and objectives you’d like to achieve in your work. This will help you have a sense of direction and motivate you to take action to reach them.
- Anticipate and plan: identify potential obstacles or problems that may arise in your work and plan how to handle them in advance. This will allow you to be prepared and act quickly when challenges appear.
- Take the initiative: don’t wait for others to tell you what to do. Identify areas for improvement, propose ideas and solutions, and take the initiative to implement positive changes at work.
- Prioritize tasks: learn to prioritize your tasks and allocate time and resources appropriately. This will help you focus on the most important activities and avoid urgent tasks distracting you from your long-term goals.
- Organize your time: use time management techniques like the Pomodoro method to work more productively and efficiently. Divide your time into focused blocks and dedicate each period 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 a task doesn’t align with your goals, it’s important to decline or delegate appropriately.
- Foster proactive communication: communicate proactively with your team and supervisors. Share your ideas, concerns, and improvement suggestions openly and constructively. This will help drive change and foster a collaborative environment.
- Learn from mistakes: instead of seeing mistakes as failures, view them as learning opportunities. Analyze your errors, identify how to improve, and apply those lessons in future situations.
- Maintain a positive attitude: cultivate a positive attitude toward your work and the tasks you perform. Focus on solutions and don’t let obstacles discourage you. A positive attitude will help you maintain motivation and proactivity.
And speaking of motivation... we hope this post has helped you continue growing and striving for your goals with enthusiasm and proactivity. We’ll see you in the next Educa.Pro article!
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