How to Be Proactive at Work: My 5 Step System.

Let’s take a few minutes to look critically at your actions in the workplace. 

•Do you react to the events happening around you or do you take initiative to prepare for, participate in and/or control the events?

•Do you take an active or passive role? Do you think in terms of the present or do you look to the future, anticipating outcomes and preparing for the consequences?

•Do you make a decision only when you have to, when you’re backed into a corner or when you’ve put it off for as long as you can? Or do you make conscious decisions as part of a larger, long-term plan?

In my experience, the most valuable employees are the ones who are proactive. By definition, this means they control situations by causing things to happen rather than waiting to respond after things happen. People who are proactive don’t sit around waiting for answers to appear; they stand up, put one foot in front of the other, and find the answers. They don’t wait for someone to hand them an instruction manual and a box of tools; they’re resourceful. 

Proactive people are constantly moving forward, looking to the future, and making things happen. They’re actively engaged, not passively observing. Being proactive is a way of thinking and acting.

Now, this concept can be a little abstract for some. An article written by motivational speaker, Craig Harper in 2007 explains it like this:

Reactive is, “I’ve got massive chest pain and pins and needles down my arm. Maybe I’ll go to the doctor.” Proactive is, “Even though I have no symptoms, I want to live a long, healthy life so I have embraced the life-long habits of healthy eating and regular exercise.”

So, are you being proactive or reactive in the workplace?

Certainly, there are times when it’s appropriate to be reactive. We have plenty of decisions to make in-the-moment. There are times when we need to be flexible and adapt to a rapidly changing environment. There are times when long-term plans must be abandoned in order to meet immediate needs. And there will always be those unavoidable roadblocks that even the most proactive person in the world would not have been able to foresee or avoid. 

 

However, the ability to be proactive provides a clear advantage in the workplace and most managers expect staff members to demonstrate a proactive mentality. I have identified five key behaviors (The 5 P’s) involved in being proactive. Below, I’ve outlined my system and exactly how you can develop your abilities in each area.

1. Predict: In order to be proactive, you must first develop foresight. Proactive people are rarely caught by surprise. Learn to anticipate problems and events. Understand how things work; look for patterns; recognize the regular routines, daily practices and natural cycles that exist in your business. At the same time, don’t allow yourself to become complacent. Use your imagination when anticipating future outcomes. Don’t simply expect the past to always be an accurate predictor for the future; use your creativity and logic. Come up with multiple scenarios for how events could unfold. Proactive people are always on their toes.

2. Prevent: Proactive people foresee potential obstacles and exert their power to find ways to overcome them before those obstacles turn into concrete roadblocks. They prevent problems that others would simply look back on in hindsight and claim unavoidable. Don’t allow yourself to get swept up in a feeling of powerlessness. When challenges approach, take control and confront them head on before they grow into overwhelming problems.

3. Plan: Proactive people plan for the future. Avoid one-step, “here and now” thinking and instead, look ahead and anticipate long-term consequences. Bring the future into the present; what can you do today to ensure success tomorrow? Don’t make decisions in a vacuum; every decision is a link in a chain of events leading to one final conclusion. In order to make the best decision, you have to know where you came from, where you are, and where you want to end up.

4. Participate: Proactive people are not idle observers, they are active participants. In order to be proactive, you must get involved. You have to take initiative and be a part of the solution. Recognize that you are only a piece of the whole and that you influence—and are influenced by—the actions of others. Don’t simply react to them. Engage with them. Exert your influence and make a contribution.

5. Perform: Being proactive means taking timely, effective action. You must be decisive and willing to do the work NOW. Procrastination is not an option. Take ownership of your performance and hold yourself accountable. Stand behind your decisions. Being proactive means you have taken careful, thoughtful steps to choose the appropriate path; you’re not just reacting impulsively to your environment.

Courtesy: Eatyourcareer.

5 Things You Should Always Bring to a Job Interview.



When you have the job interview jitters, it can be hard to remember everything you need to do. You have a million things on your mind, including directions to get to the interviewer’s office, your main talking points, and some topics on hand for pre-interview chit-chat. One way to keep the most important things top of mind is to make a checklist of everything you’ll need to bring with you. This way, you won’t have to worry that you forgot something. The more prepared you are for the interview, the more relaxed you’ll be. Career expert Louise Giordano said your level of preparation can be the deciding factor when it comes to a job offer.

The biggest mistake in interviewing is not being fully prepared. It behooves job-seekers to use every conceivable means possible to prepare for the interview and to allow ample time to fully prepare. Understand that interviewing is a skill; as with all skills, preparation and practice enhance the quality of that skill. Preparation can make the difference between getting an offer and getting rejected. Are you prepared? Here are some things you should always bring to a job interview.

1. Extra copies of your resume: Make sure to bring a copy for yourself as well as each person who will be interviewing you. Your interviewers may not have the time to print out your resume or may have lost the copy, so always have extras. Career coach Lisa Quast said it’s best to be over-prepared. “I always recommend bringing four to five copies because you never know when things will go so well that the hiring manager will have you interview with others from the department or with the hiring manager’s boss. They might also ask you to leave one or two copies for HR personnel. It’s always best to have more copies than you’ll need,” Quast wrote in her Forbes column. 

2. Change of clothes: Accidents happen. This is especially true when you’re nervous. If you stop to get a cup of coffee or grab a bite to eat before the interview, it’s possible you could spill your snack all over your interview outfit. The University of Southern California career center recommends bringing additional clothing just in case you have a spill. Men should carry an extra shirt and tie and women should bring an extra blouse and pair of stockings. Make sure to carry your items in a professional bag. 

3. Directions to the office: Now is not the time to get lost. Prepare beforehand by taking a trial run to the interview site. Also keep a copy of the directions on you the day of the interview. If you leave early, know where you’re going, and carry a copy of the directions with you, this will reduce your chances of being late. Career expert Heather Huhman also recommends having the contact information of the interviewer readily available. “Print out directions to the location of your interview, especially if you’ve never been there before. The worst thing you can do is get lost, which will make you late, which will most likely make you lose the job. At the top of the page, write down the name and contact information of your interviewer. This way, if something does go wrong on your way to the interview, you can let them know,” said Huhman in her column for Glassdoor.



 

4. Research about the company: Spend any down time you have before the interview going over your research about the company. This will help keep the information fresh in your mind so that you can quickly and intelligently answer any questions related to the employer. How well you’re able to answer questions about the company shows that you’re prepared and serious about the job.

5. A list of questions: When it comes time for you to ask questions, the pressure of the interview could make you draw a blank. You can avoid the potential embarrassment by having a list of questions in front of you. Don’t be shy about bringing a list of prepared questions. Your main goal should be to ask questions that show you’re passionate about working for the employer and that you have taken time to think about and prepare for the interview. Human resources expert Ruth Mayhew says you can read from your list without being awkward by mentioning in passing that you have a list of questions with you. “Many recruiters wait until the end of the interview to ask, ‘Do you have any questions for me?’ in which case you should say, ‘Yes, I do, and I hope you won’t mind that I glance at the notes I’ve made. I want to make sure I understand everything we’ve discussed.’ No recruiter is going to stop you from asking prepared questions or questions that you’ve come up with during the interview. The key is to let the interviewer know that you have prepared some questions to ask without actually asking for permission to look at your notes,” advised Mayhew in her Houston Chronicle column.

4 Job Interview Questions That People Screw up the Most.

When it comes to acing your job interview, one important piece of the puzzle is how well you answer each question. An insufficient answer could make or break your chances of snagging the job.

Career expert Lavie Margolin said practice makes perfect when it comes to wowing the hiring managers. “Advanced practice will give you an opportunity to think through your work history to have the points you are most proud of and those that apply to your present job search at the forefront of your memory. It will also help you research any information about the position you are interviewing for in advance so that you come across as a serious applicant,” said Margolin in Winning Answers to 500 Interview Questions. 

The Cheat Sheet chatted with Lorna Hagen, senior vice president of People Operations at OnDeck, for more insight into the questions to watch out for and how to answer them with grace. Here are the questions Hagen says many candidates don’t get right.



Question: Can I get you a cup of coffee? Water?:  

Common mistake in answering: “Oh, no thank you, I’m fine!” 

Example of better way to address the question: “Yes!” Walk with the interviewer to retrieve. This is usually in a separate room from where you’ll be interviewed, so it will give the candidate an opportunity to see more of the office and understand more of the perks and culture. Is there a kitchen with free beverages? Is the office quiet? Are people working in offices, cubicles or community desks? Having this first-hand look allows the candidate to assess the space, the people, the vibe and the culture. It also allows the candidate to determine if it feels like it might be a good fit.

 

Question: Why didn’t you graduate college? 

Common mistake in answering: An emotional response usually happens (financial difficulties, family issues, etc.) 

Example of better way to address the question: Candidates need to recall the reason why they left school and then own the decision. Candidates should talk about the personal growth that came from having to make the decision, the lessons learned and experiences gained from the time out of school until present. Showcasing continued learning and advancement regardless of an earned degree can prove attributes that are normally associated with traditional schooling.

Question: Why are you leaving your current job? What’s wrong with it?

Common mistake in answering: Talking about the misfortunes of the previous company (I don’t agree with management’s decisions. My boss left so I left. The company was going down the toilet) is never the way to go.

Example of better way to address the question: Candidates need to pivot the conversation and talk about their personal growth, professional goals, and how the new organization can help them achieve this. Talking down about a current or previous employer is an indication that the candidate might do the same to a future employer.

Future employers are testing for judgment with this type of question. Does the candidate know what to share and what not to share? Will the candidate be trustworthy with confidential and proprietary information? At OnDeck, openness is a core value. We also trust our team members to be responsible with proprietary information and to use good judgement when talking about our products, people and processes. It’s paramount for us to find someone who shares these same qualities 

Question: Tell me about yourself.

Common mistake in answering: Most candidates begin with personal information such as “I was born…” or “My parents…”

Example of a better way to address the question: Although this sounds like a personal question, it’s not. This type of question provides a window into a candidate’s life and offers the opportunity to highlight professional successes and achievements. Candidates should think about the timeline of their professional life and walk the interviewer through the highlights of their resume, but with added context and color. For instance, you can offer a story or anecdote to fill in the blanks as to why you left a certain company or why you relocated.

Courtesy: CheatSheet.