Proactive and reactive refers to how you respond to priorities. In the workplace, proactive and reactive can also describe types of activities and your ability to set goals. Proactive employees typically demonstrate leadership skills due to an ability to effectively prioritize tasks. However, reactive employees do have value in making an organization run efficiently.
Proactive Tasks
Proactive tasks include big-picture activities, such as seeking out partnerships with other businesses or meeting with a client to discuss project ideas. Proactive tasks create long-term effects that help to shape your career. Balancing proactive tasks with mandatory reactive tasks can be a challenge, especially if your job is fast-paced. However, if you want to remain in alignment with your career goals, proactive tasks are essential.
Reactive Tasks
Reactive tasks are not inferior to proactive tasks. On the contrary, reactive tasks such as submitting expense reports, checking your voice mail or cleaning out your email inbox are all necessary to creating an efficient work environment. Performing reactive tasks, however, can take valuable time away from proactive tasks and leave you feeling overwhelmed with work. Set aside a specific time each day to complete reactive tasks instead of attempting to complete them along with your job priorities.
Leadership
Proactive employees are generally in a leadership role in the workplace. CEOs, managers and supervisors are considered to be thought leaders within an organization. These individuals make decisions that have long-term, significant impact for the company and their own careers. Typically, employees in leadership roles have support staff to assist them in the completion of reactive tasks.
Priorities
When setting your priorities in your current career, consider which tasks you value. If you spend too much time completing reactive tasks, you may be missing opportunities to show off your talents and abilities. Stephen Covey, author of "The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People" explains that the difference in effectiveness between a person who is proactive and a person who is reactive is a "5,000-plus percentage difference." Proactivity puts the responsibility on you as an employee to take control of your career priorities and in fulfilling the overarching goal of your job responsibilities.
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