The term “proactivity” has long become popular thanks to books on psychology and management. Many business coaches and consultants use this word when talking about the essential qualities of a successful leader. This is understandable, since proactivity is one of the keys to the doors of success in both personal and professional spheres. The key to understanding the reasons for the effectiveness of any activity. The only question is: is the person himself ready to open these doors?

What is proactivity?

The word “proactive” was first introduced by the author of logotherapy, Viktor Frankl, in his book “Man’s Search for Meaning” to designate a person who takes responsibility for himself and his life, rather than looking for the causes of the events that happen to him in the people and circumstances around him.

Reactive people are people whose actions are dictated primarily by a reaction to external circumstances. The emotions of these people mainly depend on what the weather will be like, the mood of their family, loved ones, work colleagues, the situation at work or at home. As a rule, they do not have a point of internal support, and accordingly they are quite easy to remove from a state of stability.

When in certain life situations you automatically react to external conditions, your reactivity manifests itself. For example, your car was scratched in the parking lot or a client yelled at you, and your mood worsened. In these cases, your reaction was instantaneous and was not under conscious control.

So, Frankl's main idea says: in the interval between any external event and your reaction to it, there is one important opportunity - this is the freedom of your choice.

Thus, proactive people are those who predominantly choose their own response to external influences. These are those who try to minimize the impact of external factors on achieving their goals. Those who set goals and achieve them, confidently relying on the principles that form an integral part of their character.

For example, when leaving a job, a proactive person will say to himself: “So what? This means there will be a better offer!” and with a smile wishes good luck to his former employer.

Proactivity Structure

The concept of proactivity includes two components: activity and responsibility.

Activity implies activity in the direction of set goals. Moreover, the activity is active.

Responsibility implies awareness of responsibility for the consequences to which the actions you take lead. Much of what happens to you in life is the result of your actions. Until a person admits to himself: “The me I am today is a consequence of the choice I made yesterday,” he will not be able to decide: “I am making a different choice.”
Until a person admits to himself: “I am today is a consequence of the choice I made yesterday,” he will not be able to decide: “I am making a different choice.”
In order to better understand another aspect of the difference between proactivity and reactivity, it is proposed to divide all events in life into 2 areas.

The sphere of events that you cannot influence in any way. For example: changes in exchange rates, political decisions, revolutions, wars, prices for gasoline, gas, electricity (except for situations where you have such powers) and so on. Stephen Covey calls the sphere of such events the “circle of concern.”

The sphere of events subject to your direct influence. For example, your own education, health, relationships, career, tasks within your authority at work, and so on. A similar name is “circle of influence.”

The “litmus test” of proactivity can be the answer to the question: where are you directing your efforts: to those areas where you can have an impact or to those that you cannot influence in any way?

A proactive person always directs his efforts to his zone of influence. While the reactive one, as a rule, concentrates on events that he cannot change. For example, the HR manager explains to senior management the reason for the long search for employees by the fact that there are no applicants suitable for the company on the labor market, while a banal analysis of advertisements for interest in potential applicants has not been carried out. This is a clear example of reactive behavior.

Another example. A proactive manager will not worry much about increases in prices for communication services by operators, but will try to find ways to optimize costs. For example, through the introduction of new digital communication systems that will reduce costs and also improve the level of customer service.

By focusing on events in your “circle of influence,” you feel more powerful and confident in your ability to change the situation around you. The feeling of freedom to choose the direction of movement in your life is a companion of proactive people. While the feeling of helplessness, despondency and dependence is the lot of the reactive.

Oddly enough, there are terms similar in meaning to proactivity. For example, such as “locus of control” and “localization of control of volitional effort” from Gestalt therapy. And this once again confirms that there is one truth, only there are several approaches to its interpretation.

The tables indicate the main features inherent in proactive and reactive people, and what statements can be used to distinguish one from the other.

The above comparisons clearly demonstrate the difference between proactivity and reactivity. Reactive people in most cases refer to the impossibility of doing something. This is expressed in the form of negative sentences that are taken for granted.
Proactive people are more focused on what can be changed in the current situation. These people ask themselves: “What actions need to be taken?” In other words, proactivity is focusing on your ability to change reality.
A more detailed description of proactivity can be found in the books of Stephen Covey. Proactivity, according to Covey, is one of the 7 key skills of any successful person, not to mention managers, whose work results are the key to the achievements of any company.

Now try to mentally correlate the image of a leader with the images of reactive and proactive people, and you will see the prospects of one and the other approach to solving management problems. The conclusions are obvious.

Evgeniy Khristenko,
director of the company "iTek"

Stephen Covey. "The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People."
. Radislav Gandapas. "Charisma of a leader in business."
. Video trainings by Vladimir Gerasichev.
. Isaac Adizes. "The Ideal Leader"
. Research on the concepts of “locus control” and “localization of control of volitional effort” in Gestalt therapy.
. Song "Let this world bend under us."
. The saying “Those who want find opportunities, those who don’t want find excuses.”

Soberly weigh your strengths and the boundaries of your “sphere of influence.” Try to focus your efforts on where you can actually put your efforts.
. If you start blaming circumstances for the fact that you failed to do something, think that maybe it’s not the circumstances at all. This does not mean that you need to constantly engage in self-criticism and self-deprecation. After all, a bad result is also an experience that can be used for further self-training and self-development.
. Communicate from the position of “I win - he wins.”

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Proactivity

Any of our actions comes from our thinking. There is nothing that happens to us on its own (with the exception of the instincts and reflexes inherent in nature). And our whole life depends on which mental models prevail in us.

Any event that happens in our life has an impact on us. Depending on how we react to events, our thinking can be divided into two types: reactive and proactive.

What does it mean?

If we explain it quickly and simply, this means that we either consider ourselves the consequence of everything that happens in life, or we consider ourselves the cause. In the first case, in the case of reactive thinking: life - this is what happens to us. In the case of proactive thinking: life - this is what I choose to do.

This results in two types of behavior:

1. Reactive behavior is when we simply adapt to events that are created by other people.
2. Proactive behavior is when we ourselves create events in our lives.

People with proactive thinking are people who understand that only they are responsible for their life, that no one else has as much influence on it as they do. And even if circumstances do not turn out the way they want, they always have a choice of how to react to this situation and continue to act based on new conditions.

People with a reactive mindset are people who believe that other people and circumstances create their lives. They usually blame the environment for everything, saying that if it weren’t for this and that, things would have been different. They are always hostage to external forces. When you ask them why they couldn’t do something, there is always an extreme one, because of whom everything fell through. These people do not take responsibility for their lives and what happens in it.

Proactivity means taking action yourself rather than being influenced. Moreover, action means not only the creation of circumstances, but also the choice of response to what has already happened.

When some unpleasant or difficult event happens in our life, we always have a choice of how to mentally react to it: either begin to regret, complain about fate and everything around us, feel like a victim and become despondent; either see what can be done about the situation, start looking for a way out, or simply accept that the situation happened, but it has no impact on your self-esteem and perception of yourself.

How can you distinguish a reactive person from a proactive one?

To summarize, reactive people think with the words “This is all because...”, proactive people think with the questions “How? What can I do?

We can say that the slogan of a proactive person will be: “I create my life.” (And this will be true, because he himself actively creates all events and circumstances). While the reactive one: “I’m adapting to the life that others have created for me.”

Today it was important for us to start this topic, perhaps even encourage you to think about what behavior is more characteristic of you. After all, if you are going to create your life, start a new one, then this can only be done if you think and act proactively, if you understand the importance of your actions and accept responsibility for your choice.

No matter what happens in life, you can always choose how to react to it, perceive it as a tragedy or as an opportunity.

Throughout life, a person constantly has to deal with many different situations and the actions of other people. Only a few try to change the current circumstances on their own. Psychologists say that a person’s fate largely depends on the choice between proactive and reactive thinking in work and personal life.

Experts consider proactivity to be one of the main components necessary to achieve results and implement planned plans. This is a special perception of everything that happens around and an attitude towards it, which gives the ability to influence one’s own life and not depend on external factors. A proactive person determines his own priorities and strives to achieve his goals. Reactive people have a different approach. They always find outsiders to blame for their troubles, this makes it easier for them to come to terms with troubles and submit to circumstances.

Not all people are able to correctly assess what is happening and understand the reasons for constant failures. They don't know what it means to be proactive or what benefits it brings. The main thing is the desire to minimize negative circumstances through active actions.

With a reactive way of thinking, people do not try to influence the situation, they only show their negative attitude towards it. The line of behavior is to be the object of outside influence.

Proactivity

People with proactive thinking always take responsibility for everything that happens in life. They are not afraid to make mistakes; they decide for themselves how to react to events, realizing their potential. They do not tend to succumb to impulsive emotional impulses. They clearly think through the strategy of behavior, taking into account the possible consequences. Unlike reactive individuals, they have freedom of choice.

Proactivity manifests itself in the form of active participation in ongoing events, independent choice of the optimal way out of an unpleasant situation.

Psychologists, when asked who is to blame for the current course of behavior, answer that it largely depends on the environment in which the child grew up and was raised. But reactivity is not something permanent; anyone can change it.

Reactivity

It is assumed that this way of thinking is characteristic of dependent people, losers. A reactive personality depends on many circumstances:

• real environmental conditions;
• relationships between loved ones and strangers.

They often become victims of manipulators who use them for their own purposes, often unseemly. Constant grievances and complaints cause negative emotions and lead to an inferiority complex.

Signs of reactive thinking:

• all failures are explained only by external unfavorable factors;
• responsibility for what is happening is shifted to other people or an unfortunate situation;
• when problems arise, the search for those responsible begins;
• a reaction occurs in response to an external stimulus.

How to find out your thinking type

• health status;
• Job;
• children and relatives;
• weather;
• events from the past;
• safety.

He called these groups a circle of concern and influence. Everything that can influence emotions and mood conventionally belongs to the first group. This is a set of circumstances that have to be taken into account, but cannot be influenced. Examples: weather, relationships with superiors, situation in the country, politics. The second group includes what can be changed. Examples: you can stop communicating with an unpleasant person, stop watching time-consuming TV shows.

It is necessary to analyze which of the two circles is given more time and effort. Proactive individuals tend to focus their efforts on their circle of influence. They are not afraid to take on obligations and responsibilities, and look for optimal ways to solve complex issues. This allows you to constantly increase your potential and become attractive in the eyes of others.

Reactive people pay more attention to their range of concerns. They are irritated by the weaknesses and bad habits of others, problems and circumstances that cannot be changed now. They tend to complain and blame others for their failures and feel like innocent sufferers. The negative energy they generate and their disregard for those issues that can be resolved within their power lead to a gradual contraction of the circle of influence. This entails increased dependence on external circumstances. Reactive thinking causes you to focus your attention on the circle of concerns and become dependent on what is inside it.

A simple test will help you find out how to determine your type of thinking. You need to select from the table the saying with which you agreed and then calculate which part contained more of them.

If there are several matches with the reactive column, you will have to work to get rid of the negative type of thinking. For success in professional activity, it is valuable to change thoughts and speech in a proactive direction. This is a prerequisite for switching to a different way of perceiving the world. Many wealthy people have faced failures, collapse of plans, and bankruptcy several times in their lives. Thanks to their positive attitude and self-confidence, they managed to achieve success despite the most unfavorable conditions.

Features of behavior and speech

The type of thinking leaves an imprint on people's attitude to life and behavior. The difference can be seen in the table:

Typical Reactive Thinking Phrases:

• I'll have to do it;
• I was forced;
• it would be necessary to do this somehow;
• if I could;
• I can't;
• I don’t have time (strength, mood).

Statements from proactive people:

• how should I do it;
• where can I find out;
• how (what) you can change yourself;
• how to find free time;
• how to get information.

People with different thinking styles have different approaches to life, attitudes towards difficulties and problems that arise.

How to change your thinking

For many, it will be interesting to learn how to develop positive thinking, what specific steps are needed and their sequence. There are several rules of proactivity:

1. In any circumstances, focus on looking for opportunities to correct the situation.
2. Make active efforts instead of consoling yourself and looking for blame in unfavorable environmental factors.
3. In a difficult situation, look for any available opportunities to influence its positive resolution.

It is impossible to change your habitual behavior in a short period of time. Constant effort is required, the main thing is to decide to take the first step. Over time, the habit of asking yourself the question: “What can I do?” will become permanent, not requiring special efforts. The desire to improve life cannot be achieved without changing your attitude towards it.

A position where a person considers those around him and unfavorable conditions to be to blame for his failures does not imply active actions to change what is happening. This is an easy path, but it will not lead you to success. This is the choice of weak individuals who find it easier to cry into their vests and reproach everyone around them than to take the necessary steps to change their lives.

Features of different types of thinking:

Development of proactivity

There is a way to change your thinking, but you will have to make an effort, since tangible results will only appear after a certain time. There are no exact dates, since everything depends on the efforts made by the person. Stages:

Pay attention to signs of reactivity. If you find yourself in an unpleasant situation, do not get angry and react violently. Try to understand the reason for the event that happened; it is probably not your fault or someone else’s. Example: I had to lose time in line. Your irritation will not change the situation, so you should not criticize the current circumstances.

Change your way of thinking. Directly depends on the words and thoughts used. We will have to abandon the phrases “I can’t”, “If only”, replacing them with “I can”, “I will do”. As soon as a negative thought appears, immediately replace it with a positive one. Over time, a positive attitude will become a habit.

Analyze previous mistakes. The past cannot be changed, but often unpleasant events from it remain in the memory for a long time, forcing us to relive what happened. A rational approach is to understand the cause of the error and draw the right conclusions. This will prevent similar events from happening again in the future.

Don't avoid responsibility. Making a commitment forces the brain to work intensely to achieve a goal, regardless of the obstacles that arise. It's difficult, but in the end everything pays off in the form of material benefits and the respect of others.

Principles of effective business leadership

In a market economy, sustainable development of an organization is impossible without proactive management. This concept means the ability to anticipate events and take the necessary measures in advance to avoid problems. Global experience has shown that proactive companies are more successful than their reactive competitors. This is because they constantly take the time to study internal processes to identify weak points and the environment. This allows them to quickly respond to ongoing processes, ensure proactive development taking into account the needs of the market and the challenges of the competitive environment.

The basic principles of proactive management are to anticipate and prevent negative trends. The goal is to respond to emerging problems and take measures to prevent their recurrence.

Effective management requires analyzing mistakes and making adjustments to current activities. There is a Pareto principle, according to which 20% of identified and hidden threats can cause 80% of critical situations that have serious negative consequences. Therefore, the issue of their identification and prevention is relevant. Thanks to proactive monitoring, the existence of a problem becomes known in advance, which makes it possible to eliminate it in a timely manner.

With reactive management, adaptation to external conditions occurs without attempts to change the situation. In this case, it is only possible to record the fait accompli of an unfavorable event that could cause the company to go bankrupt.

People with proactive thinking constantly have to make intellectual and physical efforts, their constant employment does not allow them to get bored, and their life is filled with bright stories. They make excellent leaders and successful businessmen. It is easier for reactive people to complain about life than to look for solutions to problems. Such a passive position will not allow you to achieve success, but not everyone is ready to take responsibility and make independent serious decisions.

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What is reactive behavior in communication? Each of us reacts to events happening in our world in two ways - emotionally and mentally (or cognitively). These reactions have their own built-in systems that help us cope with various events that happen around us that can cause us to experience stress. These mechanisms help us maintain a certain balance and order in our lives. The variety of ways in which we react emotionally or mentally to events can be described in very complex psychological terms. An experienced psychologist will learn a lot about our mental health by analyzing how we use these mechanisms. More generally, we can say that by observing a person's verbal and nonverbal behavior during communication, we can understand how he copes with a particular stressful event. Human behavior is divided into five categories - acceptance, negotiation, anger, depression and denial.

Reactive behavior in communication. Several years ago, a doctor who worked with cancer patients published an interesting study about how patients and their families cope with the inevitability of death. Dr. Elisabeth Kübler-Ross described the varied reactions of her patients and their families. Her book has become an invaluable source of information for doctors, nurses, psychologists, clergy, hospice workers and all those who have to deal with patients and their relatives who are faced with the inevitability of death. Several years later, the National Organization for Victims' Assistance used Dr. Ross's work to provide psychological assistance to crime victims and their relatives. When we are faced with events in our lives that cause varying degrees of stress, we react in almost the same way. In an extremely stressful situation, when a person deceives another with his own behavior, there is always a risk that the deception will be discovered. This circumstance creates the unpleasant prospect of having to account for one’s own actions, deception and all its consequences.

Of the five behavioral reactions that can be present in a conversation, four are some kind of resistance to reality. I'm talking about negotiation, anger, depression and denial. They can appear in any order and repeatedly during one conversation.

Acceptance is the reaction to be strived for.

Each of the five reactions—acceptance, negotiation, anger, depression, and denial—is manifested in verbal and nonverbal behavior. By observing other people interacting and listening to their speech, you understand their emotional and cognitive reactions to specific problems. The freer and more comfortable the interaction between people, the less pronounced such reactions are. Observe two people under stress or when they are discussing a topic that is vital to one or both of them. Try to notice changes in the intensity of their reactions. As you watch and listen, the emotions of your interlocutors will literally overwhelm you. An accurate diagnosis of these emotions is an excellent means of determining the progress made in the conversation. You can use your understanding of these emotions to determine how to respond and overcome barriers to effective communication.

The term “proactivity” has long become popular thanks to books on psychology and management. Many business coaches and consultants use this word when talking about the essential qualities of a successful leader. This is understandable, since proactivity is one of the keys to the doors of success in both personal and professional spheres. The key to understanding the reasons for the effectiveness of any activity. The only question is: is the person himself ready to open these doors?

What is proactivity?

The word “proactive” was first introduced by the author of logotherapy, Viktor Frankl, in his book “Man’s Search for Meaning” to designate a person who takes responsibility for himself and his life, rather than looking for the causes of the events that happen to him in the people and circumstances around him.

Reactive people are people whose actions are dictated primarily by a reaction to external circumstances. The emotions of these people mainly depend on what the weather will be like, the mood of their family, loved ones, work colleagues, the situation at work or at home. As a rule, they do not have a point of internal support, and accordingly they are quite easy to remove from a state of stability.

When in certain life situations you automatically react to external conditions, your reactivity manifests itself. For example, your car was scratched in the parking lot or a client yelled at you, and your mood worsened. In these cases, your reaction was instantaneous and was not under conscious control.

So, Frankl's main idea says: in the interval between any external event and your reaction to it, there is one important opportunity - this is the freedom of your choice.

Thus, proactive people are those who predominantly choose their own response to external influences. These are those who try to minimize the impact of external factors on achieving their goals. Those who set goals and achieve them, confidently relying on the principles that form an integral part of their character.

For example, when leaving a job, a proactive person will say to himself: “So what? This means there will be a better offer!” and with a smile wishes good luck to his former employer.

Proactivity Structure

The concept of proactivity includes two components: activity and responsibility.

Activity implies activity in the direction of set goals. Moreover, the activity is active.

Responsibility implies awareness of responsibility for the consequences to which the actions you take lead. Much of what happens to you in life is the result of your actions. Until a person admits to himself: “The me I am today is a consequence of the choice I made yesterday,” he will not be able to decide: “I am making a different choice.”
Until a person admits to himself: “I am today is a consequence of the choice I made yesterday,” he will not be able to decide: “I am making a different choice.”
In order to better understand another aspect of the difference between proactivity and reactivity, it is proposed to divide all events in life into 2 areas.

The sphere of events that you cannot influence in any way. For example: changes in exchange rates, political decisions, revolutions, wars, prices for gasoline, gas, electricity (except for situations where you have such powers) and so on. Stephen Covey calls the sphere of such events the “circle of concern.”

The sphere of events subject to your direct influence. For example, your own education, health, relationships, career, tasks within your authority at work, and so on. A similar name is “circle of influence.”

The “litmus test” of proactivity can be the answer to the question: where are you directing your efforts: to those areas where you can have an impact or to those that you cannot influence in any way?

A proactive person always directs his efforts to his zone of influence. While the reactive one, as a rule, concentrates on events that he cannot change. For example, the HR manager explains to senior management the reason for the long search for employees by the fact that there are no applicants suitable for the company on the labor market, while a banal analysis of advertisements for interest in potential applicants has not been carried out. This is a clear example of reactive behavior.

Another example. A proactive manager will not worry much about increases in prices for communication services by operators, but will try to find ways to optimize costs. For example, through the introduction of new digital communication systems that will reduce costs and also improve the level of customer service.

By focusing on events in your “circle of influence,” you feel more powerful and confident in your ability to change the situation around you. The feeling of freedom to choose the direction of movement in your life is a companion of proactive people. While the feeling of helplessness, despondency and dependence is the lot of the reactive.

Oddly enough, there are terms similar in meaning to proactivity. For example, such as “locus of control” and “localization of control of volitional effort” from Gestalt therapy. And this once again confirms that there is one truth, only there are several approaches to its interpretation.

The tables indicate the main features inherent in proactive and reactive people, and what statements can be used to distinguish one from the other.

The above comparisons clearly demonstrate the difference between proactivity and reactivity. Reactive people in most cases refer to the impossibility of doing something. This is expressed in the form of negative sentences that are taken for granted.
Proactive people are more focused on what can be changed in the current situation. These people ask themselves: “What actions need to be taken?” In other words, proactivity is focusing on your ability to change reality.
A more detailed description of proactivity can be found in the books of Stephen Covey. Proactivity, according to Covey, is one of the 7 key skills of any successful person, not to mention managers, whose work results are the key to the achievements of any company.

Now try to mentally correlate the image of a leader with the images of reactive and proactive people, and you will see the prospects of one and the other approach to solving management problems. The conclusions are obvious.

Evgeniy Khristenko,
director of the company "iTek"

Stephen Covey. "The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People."
. Radislav Gandapas. "Charisma of a leader in business."
. Video trainings by Vladimir Gerasichev.
. Isaac Adizes. "The Ideal Leader"
. Research on the concepts of “locus control” and “localization of control of volitional effort” in Gestalt therapy.
. Song "Let this world bend under us."
. The saying “Those who want find opportunities, those who don’t want find excuses.”

Soberly weigh your strengths and the boundaries of your “sphere of influence.” Try to focus your efforts on where you can actually put your efforts.
. If you start blaming circumstances for the fact that you failed to do something, think that maybe it’s not the circumstances at all. This does not mean that you need to constantly engage in self-criticism and self-deprecation. After all, a bad result is also an experience that can be used for further self-training and self-development.
. Communicate from the position of “I win - he wins.”