How to be more proactive at work: 8 practical tips

Several keys to adopting a more proactive attitude in the workplace.

Proactivity is one of the characteristics that makes the difference in terms of people's success at work. Someone who has the ability to remain willing to perform their work tasks with the best disposition will have an easier time performing in the workplace.

In this article we are going to see several keys on how to be more proactive at work..

What does proactivity at work refer to?

The term proactivity refers to an attitude of control with which the subject is able to take responsibility for their activities and get down to work to achieve them efficiently. to carry them out efficiently. The proactive person is able to make a personal strategic planning to manage their tasks and carry them out.

Individuals who possess this characteristic are little influenced by environmental circumstances that may interfere with their work; that is, regardless of what is happening around them, they usually look for ways to bring their work to a successful conclusion.

The opposite happens with a reactive subject, they look for excuses to justify their lack of commitment to the activities they are supposed to do. they are supposed to do.

How to increase work proactivity?

Let's see a list with some strategies to improve proactivity in the work area from proactivity. These guidelines will allow you to improve both your performance and your time and resource management.

1. Seek order

This first tip refers to the basis of proactivity. A person who is able to keep his or her workplace tidy possesses or is on the verge of possessing a better planning capacity and sense of order than those subjects who do not pay attention to this aspect. This simple fact goes hand in hand with a better disposition to work efficiently and efficiently..

In addition, this includes moving away, deactivating or hiding elements that can act as distractions when working: a smartphone, a portable console, a television set, snacks, etc.

2. Keep positive thoughts

Our actions originate from our thoughts, that is why we must be very careful about the quality of our thoughts. When we propose to think positively we are already taking significant steps towards improving our proactivity.

Positive thoughts motivate usThey constitute a way of seeing things in the best way and consequently they make it easier for us to carry them out. Even when something looks good, we will be able to find the best solutions to the conflict.

3. Seek participation

Becoming actively involved in the dynamics of the workplace will help you to gradually acquire and normalize the behavior of being proactive. This can be achieved by making small positive changes in your daily life. For example, get involved in your colleagues' conversations and contribute opinions to their discussion.

Believe it or not, actively participating in conversations and discussions with colleagues encourages you to perform better at work, even though it is a "passive" activity. keeps you connected with what you have to do and gives you ideas to do it..

4. Get used to looking for solutions

That doesn't mean that you should become everyone's problem solver, but that you should always maintain the ability to prevent things from happening. the ability to prevent things from going wrong. for any circumstance beyond your control.

In other words, think positive, but keep your feet on the ground and take precautions. In this way you will prevent things from getting out of control, and you won't be surprised when they do.You won't be surprised when they do, but you will be able to find the best way to get out of trouble.

5. Get used to solving

In the work environment it is necessary to get used to look for practical and effective solutions, otherwise we could incur in unintentional waste of time trying to solve things in the wrong way, or failing to do tasks to devote ourselves to others more than necessary.

6. Develops decision-making capacity

A proactive person is capable of make decisive decisions when others do not dare to do so.. To be proactive you have to take risks from time to time; calculated risks, of course. The ideal is to study our decisions before taking the step, being careful not to over-evaluate.

Above all, it is very important that you learn to detect analysis paralysis: situations in which we remain "frozen" thinking about what to do, without daring to make a decision and move from words to deeds. Remember that introspection and reflection can become an excuse for not leaving the comfort zone.

7. Use new technologies

In the current era we have at our disposal a series of technological resources (apps, programs, etc.) that can help us simplify various aspects of our lives, including work.

A good way to increase proactivity in the workplace is to take advantage of these resources, which in many cases contribute to saving time and resources. For example, there are very useful apps for keeping schedules and structuring time well, or that include short relaxation exercises for breaks.

However, make sure that these electronic devices do not become a source of distractions, as we saw in the first point.

8. Self-motivate

Proactivity responds to the motivation we have to perform our activities in the best possible way. in the best possible way. This motivation can come from within or from the outside, through rewards.

People who are able to maintain a high level of proactivity are in charge of keeping themselves motivated through the management of their thoughts, their work spaces and the way they set goals through their actions and experiences. The key is to focus on the benefits we will obtain if we carry out our assignments properly.