Next to "assertiveness", which we talked about recently, proactivity is another attitude that is highly valued among employers and managers in modern, forward-looking top companies. Of course, being proactive "sounds good", but how many non-executive employees really know the meaning of this term? By reading the following article, you will learn not only what it is, but also how to adopt a proactive attitude at work, an approach that will only bring you benefits, both in the short term, and especially in the medium and long term!

According to the famous American dictionary Merriam Webster, being proactive means "to act in anticipation of future problems, needs or changes", the word being antonym of "reactive", designating people who react to any problem or change after it has occurred or to a need only when it becomes urgent.

The same source identifies various qualities of proactive people: forward-looking, helpful, thoughtful, visionary, attentive, perceptive, wise, etc. On the other hand, the list of antonyms includes defects such as carelessness, imprudence, etc. Under such conditions, it is clear why every manager in the world wants proactive employees: because they are oriented towards solving problems, not creating or resenting them, they have a strong sense of anticipation and an always positive attitude towards their own progress and that of the organisation they belong to (understanding that these two always go hand in hand).

But how to have a proactive attitude, how to stand out both by the results of your work and by the correct positioning towards colleagues, superiors and the company itself? Here are some tips from our specialists:

- every time the manager asks a question and the silence is left, be the one who first proposes a solution (even if it may be the most obvious one) or who takes responsibility;

- always make sure that your words are backed up by actions, the latter being at least as important for achieving the desired objectives (both personal/professional and company-wide);

- never blame colleagues for a failure, but either take your share of responsibility or find solutions to overcome current or potential problems (which are foreseen in the short and medium term future);

- prove, with every action, that you want to evolve on all levels and to have more responsibilities, in order to have more benefits;

- respond promptly to all requests, but prioritize them and try to anticipate how others will react to your messages, so that you are always one step ahead of them (similar to the game of chess);

- prove that you are a man of your word, never promise more than you can deliver and always stick to the things you commit to (this will earn the trust and admiration of others);

- get rid of the most known habits of some Romanian employees (e.g. "It works like this" or "It can't happen to me/us" etc.).

It is important to say that nobody is born with a proactive attitude, but it is built over time. Brightway® offers you the Growth Mindset Training, among the results of which are: the ability to adapt to unforeseen changes; increased motivation; increased self-confidence and energy; increased level of initiative; increased ability to reposition yourself after failure; conflict prevention, etc. All these new skills, which you will gain after attending the Growth Mindset course, play an essential role in creating a proactive attitude, for the good and future of you and the company you are part of. We are waiting for you!