How to Become Truly, Deeply, Profoundly Proactive

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We usually know when we've missed a crucial window to prevent a problem or seize an opportunity. Sadly, it’s too late. The standard regret—that we should've been more proactive—offers a valuable but quickly forgotten lesson.

Starting a task or changing direction sooner rather than later is the minimum standard for being proactive. Deeper, full-fledged proactivity is far more profound: It is the unique class of forward-looking behaviors that create the futures we need and want. These precious capabilities harbor countless potential benefits for those who choose to leverage them.

Proactivity isn't a Marvel-caliber superpower, but it's a potential savior that we greatly, sometimes tragically, underuse. Consider the countless regrets after not taking care of our health, saving for retirement, preparing for severe weather events, properly managing natural resources, voting before becoming unhappy with the winning politicians, and adequately dealing with changing business environments.

My Favorite Cartoon

Most proactivity research involves working adults across various management settings, but first, a metaphor: Imagine a cascading stream with salmon leaping and swimming upward to their spawning grounds. Next to the stream are stairs, on which a shadowy figure heads upstream, wearing a long raincoat and a fedora pulled low.

This Far Side cartoon by Gary Larson has no caption. What is going on? A closer look at the suspicious figure reveals a clue: a fishtail barely showing beneath the raincoat.

While the other fish apply sheer grit to the old ways of doing things, an enterprising salmon—a potential leader—is searching for a creative, better way to perform a vital task. Trying a proactive new approach could outperform others' standard routines that worked in the past but could soon become obsolete.

Diving Deeper

This subtle cartoon highlights key points about proactive behavior. Taking initiative is the first visible sign; it indicates an effort to make self-chosen change. Making changes differs from most actions, which stem from habits, routines, and compelling circumstances, including others' demands and expectations. For example, you are being proactive when breaking from the crowd to find or forge a novel way to achieve better results or reach a new (proactive) goal.

Such initiative is a first sign, but proactivity actually begins earlier, in thoughts and emotions. Most importantly, it involves thinking ahead about where current paths are heading and identifying better futures that could result from making productive changes.

A single proactive fish in the cartoon is trying to chart a new path to address climate change and help its species. Even when not saving a species, well-executed proaction is the only thing that can save a struggling team, company, or country.

Small changes, too, can have big payoffs. Consider anything you've knowingly postponed, and the personal stress that could have been avoided by being even a bit more proactive. Or think of unaddressed elephants in meeting rooms: Speaking up on an uncomfortable topic that needs addressing is proactive, as is leading a trajectory-changing discussion.

Deep proactivity, over time and with persistence, carves new paths that 1) solve and prevent problems, 2) create or capture opportunities, and 3) craft desired futures by changing trajectories and adaptively persisting to success.

Deep Proactivity Is Uncommon but High-Impact

The lone salmon on the steps shows that proactivity is uncommon and sometimes lonely. Even the first step—deciding to pursue a proactive goal—is unusual. One of my studies identified more than 2,000 self-identified goals of company presidents and CEOs, and very few of those goals involved notable change. Most were maintaining business as usual or making minor fixes to stay on current paths.

In the workplace, evidence-based benefits of proactivity include job performance, team performance, entrepreneurialism, leadership, career benefits, and psychological well-being.

Proactive mindsets and behaviors also propelled nurses and doctors to the highest levels of performance during the COVID-19 pandemic. Those proactive health professionals emerged from that brutal experience with significant post-traumatic growth: increased appreciation of life, enhanced personal strengths, improved relationships, beliefs in new possibilities, and spiritual growth.

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Proactivity Can Misfire

Despite its net positives, proactivity carries potential risks and can fail. Bosses, peers, and direct reports who don’t like your objectives or tactics can discourage or block your efforts to effect change.

Of course, support from thoughtful and influential others can increase your odds of success. Reaching out to others for assistance and support is a proactive step; most of us don't do it enough, despite its immense benefits.

Proactivity Is the Closest Thing to a Human Superpower

In these times of momentous change, uncertainty, and danger, it's easy to feel that our leaders, and we, are losing control of work and life. We often forget that options exist—until we think hard and act. Becoming more proactive helps to regain some control.

George Bernard Shaw said, "We are made wise not by the recollection of our past, but by responsibility for our future." Looking ahead can uncover the untapped potential of our abilities to take responsibility for and strategically shape our best possible futures.