Proactive vs Reactive: What are the benefits of being proactive vs reactive?
Being proactive in life is a much smoother, calmer, more enjoyable way to live.
In business, we can tend to get into the habit of fighting fires – this can create a chaotic work environment with heaps of pressure and stress. It is also a more expensive way to run a company…
It costs more money to be reactive than proactive.
With the proactive approach, it is beneficial to have accurate, historical data to be able to analyze and make better decisions.
Based off the data taken, it is easier to come up with timely, more effective solutions.
When we are reactive to a situation, we just want it fixed and up and running again. With the proactive approach, you can look at whether or not it could be improved and make the necessary improvements prior to purchasing anything, which can have many benefits in itself.
When we run in a business in a reactive, firefighting way, there is a constant environment of stress, pressure, running behind the 8 ball feel, always trying to play catch up, never really on top of things – so basically it is running you – you are not really in control.
When the business model adapts to the proactive approach, there is more enjoyment, less stress, on top of things, and you are in control of it.
If you are currently using the reactive model, it will take time to make changes to becoming proactive, but it is worth the time and effort. Take time to review your business model and see where some changes could be made that would make things run calmer and smoother.
Questions to Ponder:
Which way does your business model lean towards?
What kind of environment are you working in?
What would it take to make some changes?
Shut your eyes and think of a reactive business model and how that looks?
Shut your eyes and think of a proactive business model and what that would look like?
It’s worth having some meetings about and creating a strategy.
