Be proactive to stay ahead of the curve

It's the leaders dream to see all employees anticipating future changes, opportunities or problems and preparing the business for it by taking prompt action. They are not simply reacting to cues from the operating environment, but proactively trying to make a difference.

This is crucial to succeed or survive in today's fast changing business world with its increasingly complex work tasks. At the organizational level, adapting and reacting to changes in one's environment is not enough; companies need to be proactive to stay ahead of competition. Reaction is costly and takes time unnecessarily and breeds de-motivation across the business organization.

One great way to build your image at work and gain respect and recognition is to be proactive. That means figuring out what needs to be done before it shows up on your desk. It's all about anticipation. What action could you take to help your boss, your co-worker, and your business partners?

Proactive

Another way of looking at it is, never act in a reactive mode. Staying ahead of the curve will make your work life less chaotic. Being proactive also positions you for job advancement. Everything else being equal, a proactive employee will have the edge over others.

Employees should engage in self-motivated, future-oriented behaviour without constant direction and supervision by others. As a life discipline, employees should not just let life happen to them but rather, try to manage, shape, expand, and mould what happens in their lives. In other words 'you control not be controlled' by external factors.

Dive deep into the tasks you do within the work slate. Ask yourself what extra things you can do to ensure success of what you do in the value chain. The paradigm shift needed is to be clear about the outcome of what you support not merely doing your work better.

Doing what you regularly do more efficiently and cost effectively may demand proactive action too, but going beyond your boundary to make a greater contribution makes more sense for you and your employer.

Pause for a moment and view your work from the perspective of internal or external customers equally well. The most respected employees in the workplace are team players. Demonstrate a willingness to assist wherever and whenever needed.

Do not wait for opportunities to come your way. Anticipate what's next and take action. Emulate others who role model proactive behaviour and observe the differences in approach, style and behaviour.

Some of the most respected leaders in your company may be proactive people. Observe their behaviour too. Look for an opportunity to spend a few minutes with them. Explain your desire to be consistently proactive and ask for better advice or new pointers. Many of us look to proactive people as the instigators of action and creative ideas in society.

Stay organised

Proactive employees care about producing their best at all times. You can avoid working in a reactive chaotic mode if you stay organized. Take time to keep an orderly and timely work pattern to have free thinking space to be proactive.

Being proactive means thinking and acting ahead of anticipated events by using foresight. Not only is it a great method to avoid more work down the road, but it can be also extremely important to avert disasters. Planning well for the future and for instituting systems at work and in study, and planning at home can make life easier, not only for you, but for others too, and besides, it may make you more popular.