Performing a search on the Internet, I entered the word Proactivity, I could observe that the online dictionary of the Royal Spanish Academy did not appear among the results; So I went directly to the page of this reference and entered Proactividad, I was not very surprised. The result was that the word is not registered in the latest edition of the dictionary of the Royal Spanish Academy.
As it is a compound word, look for it on www.rae.es separately Pro and activity. The most general means of Pro that you could use for this article is: 1. amb. Advantage, advantage, and the meanings of Activity that seemed most appropriate to me are. 1. f. Faculty to act, 2. f. Diligence, efficiency, 3. f. Promptness in acting. In conclusion, to my knowledge, Proactivity consists of the ability to take advantage of the good performance of our work.
Searching the web, I found the article: Proactivity and professional success by Maria Pallarés, where she talks extensively about Proactivity and compares various meanings of authors in the business and managerial areas.
From this good article by María Pallarés I will quote sentences of the meanings of Proactividad for the three authors that she mentions:
Steven Coves: Proactivity doesn't just mean taking initiative, but taking responsibility for making things happen; decide at all times what we want to do and how we are going to do it.
Ralf Schwarzer: argues that proactive behavior is the belief of people in their potential to improve themselves, their situation and their environment.
Bateman and Crant: Proactivity is about creating change, not just anticipating it.
Now, once placed in a wide context of bibliographic citations of experts in the business, management and human resources area, I would like to share with you a phrase that a co-worker constantly repeats: Proactivity pays dearly.
When we interview for a new job, the person who is carrying out the selection process expects to hear from us the magic word Proactivity and if you don't mention it they give you an example of a work situation and they ask you how you would act, if you answer as expected they close the example saying: that's what we need a proactive person.
It turns out that sometimes supervisors do not want a proactive professional but a professional who respects procedures and guidelines; that he fulfills his work on time, that he acted under a corporate standard, that gives good results, that he complies with his schedule and that he correctly fill out the forms.
It is a mistake to think that all supervisors want proactive professionals under the command line, simply because proactive professionals as mentioned by the different meanings have the ability to make decisions, generate changes, make precedents, anticipate problems, offer a preventive solution; a proactive professional takes the initiative and takes responsibility for her actions, in addition a proactive professional has the gift of having her own judgment.
When we meet professionals of this magnitude in the wrong job is when we hear Proactivity pays dearly, because behind an action always comes the reproach.
Both professional profiles are very valuable but in the wrong position they are a headache, the schematic professional respectful of procedures and the limits of his functions will become the disappointment of his boss and the proactive problem solver will make an image of rebellious, breaks rules, difficult to handle and communicate.
In particular, I identify with the proactive problem solving profile, I must confess that many times I have been someone's headache and many times I have been the ideal person to handle difficult situations.
The obligatory suggestion in this matter is to consider as an employer what profile we want so that tomorrow the selected person does not become our headache and, as a professional in search of new opportunities, I suggest investigating under your own criteria if you are the one indicated to exercise those functions.
If your nature is to be Proactive and you decide to take a job that does not require your profile, you will have to develop other skills so that your supervisor values your qualities, in any case it is a gain since you will have to learn negotiation techniques and tools, self-control, among others so that your stay in that workplace is successful.
Choose a path and be happy with yourself for the potential you have. Success to all !!
