Are you looking for ways to stand out at work? Perhaps, you want to grow in your organization and hone your skills.
Being more proactive at work will make you a more valued member of your organization. When you’re proactive, you’re more likely to achieve your goals and feel more satisfied in your career.
What does it mean to be more proactive?
A proactive approach to work is to anticipate issues that may arise and to be prepared for them. This is the opposite of being reactive, where work problems take you by surprise and you find yourself scrambling to meet them.
Reactive people are unable to identify important issues in the workplace. Since they don’t look for opportunities, they don’t try to seize them and they rarely bring about change.
Proactive people often seek out opportunities and show initiative. They persevere until they create change by improving themselves and their environment. Proactivity at works means actively looking for information and using it to solve problems.
When you’re proactive at work you’ll be on top of things and will handle your tasks efficiently. This will make you feel more self-confident and in control.
Proactive people also feel more satisfied at work because they leverage networks and opportunities to grow. They are also more persistent and improve their job performance.
There are so many benefits to being more proactive at work, whether you have a job, run a blog or run your own business. Here are some practical ways that you engage your proactive muscles to build a more satisfying work-life.
Ask for feedback
Asking for feedback is a simple way to become more proactive. You don’t just have to wait for your boss or manager to give you an appraisal. You can start a conversation by simply saying ‘What can I do to improve?’ You’ll be taking initiative and making an impression.
You’re seeking out information and will learn what you need to know to improve at your job. This shows that you care, you’re interested in the job, and it makes you stand out.
Not to mention, you’ll actually improve at your work and build skills. Asking for feedback is an effective way to be more proactive at work that takes very little time.
Network
Networking is a very proactive activity. Engage in networking by connecting with people across your organization wherever possible. You can also find leaders whom you can emulate and network with if it’s practical.
If you have your own business, or if you’re thinking about starting a blog, then networking will help you get more visibility. Collaborating with others in the same space or in complementary spheres can bring you more opportunities.
Reaching out and networking will have benefits in the long run. You’ll stand out and people will be more likely to remember you when opportunities turn up.
Be organized
Being organized helps you manage your time and your tasks. When you’re organized you’ll know what you need to accomplish and you’ll avoid feeling swamped.
This benefits you by making you feel more clear-headed. You’ll avoid stress and anxiety and will be able to create balance at work. When you’re more organized, you’ll be more open to opportunities that will help you grow.
You can use a planner or a digital app to help you organize your work. Make a list of your tasks and prioritize them. By prioritizing your work you’ll be able to get the most important things out of the way.
You can then figure out what you can eliminate, shorten or consolidate in your list of tasks. It will also give you the time to reflect and solve problems. You’ll be able to create a plan to stay ahead of urgent and time-consuming work. You can also consider automating your work wherever possible.
If you have your own business, then automating your email marketing will remove a good amount of time-consuming work. You’ll find the time to look after your customers.
Follow up
Following up on emails and invitations is a good practice that gets results. You can also follow up to confirm if people will be attending an event or if they are going to meet an important deadline. This keeps you informed and also lets other people know that they have to stay on top of their work.
It’s also important to follow up on customers by asking them about their experience working with you. You can thank them for buying your product or for subscribing. If you have a membership site platform like an e-learning website, it’s important to follow up on users and ask them about their experience.
By following up after events at work, you’ll show people that you are proactive. You’ll also get important information that will make you aware if a deadline won’t be met or if more actions are needed.
Grow in your workplace by being more proactive
Being more proactive at work is not just about standing out and looking good. You’ll do that, but you’re also more likely to feel personally satisfied with your job. You very likely spend most of your time working; it’s important to make your job as fulfilling and interesting as possible.
Being more proactive also makes you better at managing your business or blog. You’ll create better experiences for readers and customers. Use these tips to be more proactive and you’ll see not just your own work-life, but the experiences of everyone around you improve.