Issue 84: Being Proactive
THE LEAP
BY QUANTUM ORANGE
GROW, EXPAND & EVOLVE
ISSUE 84 | BEING PROACTIVE
Each week The (Quantum) Leap summarises a key aspect of success into what you need to Think, Feel and Do to create a personal shift.
The best way to predict our future is to create it.
~ Stephen Covey
THINK
It would be difficult to overstate the importance of being proactive. Being a person of action is vital for your self-esteem, the maintenance of good relationships, the ability to live according to your values, achieving your goals and being happy. It is closely tied to professional growth, reduced stress and the capacity to shape your own life.
Proactive people consciously make decisions based on their goals and values. They create their own opportunities and direct the course of their own lives. Even when life is good, proactive people continue to be exactly that.
Research defines proactivity as ‘self-initiated, future-focused and change oriented behaviours.’ In simpler terms, being proactive means thinking about your future and focusing on what you can control. The alternative is being reactive - that is, allowing circumstances to dictate your actions instead of choosing how to impact on the circumstances.
The list of personal growth leaders who recommend proactivity as a key tool for creating a successful life is long. Steven Covey lists it as the #1 habit in The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. Brian Tracey says, “Those who don’t set goals for themselves are forever doomed to work to achieve the goals of others.” Tony Robbins calls it using your personal power. Dr. Wayne Dyer says people who are proactive have no limits.
Whatever you’d like to call it, whichever method you choose, it’s clear that what matters is making the conscious choice to start directing your own life. Being proactive is a crucial element of personal growth and change. The more proactive we become, the easier it is to keep doing so.
Reflect on the following…
- In what areas of your life do you tend to be proactive?
- In what areas of your life do you tend to be reactive?
- What do you get out of being reactive? I.e. What benefits are there for you in not thinking ahead, not planning or not acting?
- What do you gain? Are you willing to let that go?
- What strategies can you put in place to ensure you’re more proactive in the areas you need to work on? Is there a way you can use your strengths (from question one) to do that?
- What thoughts do you regularly have that are reactive? I.e. “I don’t have time to exercise” or “How much money will that make me?”
- Reframe those thoughts with a more proactive state of mind. i.e. “How will I make time to exercise?” or “How much money do I want to make and how will I make that a reality?”
FEEL
In every part of our lives, the circumstances we experience look like this…
Stimulus — Reaction/Response
That small space between stimulus and response is where our freedom to choose what we do next lies. The problem for many people is the space is small and therefore the reaction to circumstances is automatic.
Automatic responses are usually emotionally driven - and emotional choices are rarely in our best interests or made by our best selves.
When something that involves heightened emotions is going on, pause, take a deep breath and count to ten. Doing so allows you to step back from the emotion and choose how you respond, rather than reacting without thinking.
By using your emotional intelligence skills to lengthen the space between stimulus and response, you can make more strategic, proactive choices by evaluating all of your options.
Then, the circumstances you experience might look more like this…
Stimulus ————— Response
As you use this larger space to make proactive choices, remember to be open and honest with the people around you about your feelings. Proactive people don’t shove emotional problems under the proverbial rug, they own their feelings and communicate clearly to prevent small issues becoming much bigger problems.
DO
Being proactive is not just about taking bold actions or creating busyness - reflective, strategic choices about our actions are vital.
We have greater impact and influence over ourselves, our circumstances and the people around us than most of us realise.
Here’s a few practical tips for boosting your proactivity…
Boost your self-awareness - when you know who you are and how you tend to respond to particular stimuli, it’s much easier to recognise your strengths and limitations, as well as take accountability for your actions.
Focus on the areas you can have an impact on and let go of the rest.
Be accountable for your choices, actions or inaction.
Stay positive - proactivity is much easier if you view any challenges as temporary setbacks you can overcome.
Ditch procrastination - this sounds obvious, but it needs to be said - if you want to be proactive you cannot allow yourself to procrastinate. Do what you can, now.
Look ahead - consider where you want to be, and in what timeframe, so you can work backwards and make plans accordingly.
Take strategic action - consider the best possible choices, then take ownership and dive right in!
Check your assumptions - if you observe yourself assuming the worst, challenge your negative thinking, keep your mind open and go looking for potential positives. The stories you tell yourself matter!
Be willing to adjust - sometimes plans go awry and you’ll need to change course. Reflect on what might work better, make the necessary adjustments and keep taking action!
Be mindful your language - proactive people use language that keeps them in the drivers seat (I can, I will etc), instead of reactive phrases like I can’t or I have to.
Demonstrate resilience - even the best proactive plans sometimes encounter obstacles, so check you’re on the right track and then stick with it!
