Habit 1: Be Proactive! Being proactive means that you actually give some thought and planning prior to taking action. It means your are thinking the process through ahead of time. It is a habit that takes time. I tend to be a reflective person and many times that means considering how I will improve something the next time. It would seem that being proactive would come easy for a person like me, but sometimes it isn't. There are times I am decisive about a plan and therefore I can be proactive. Other times, when I consider a plan and potential problems ahead of time, I begin thinking of many possible scenarios. Then, I find that trying to be proactive for each of those scenarios soon makes me feel overwhelmed and frustrated. Why do I find being proactive works for me sometimes, but not at all times? About 2 years ago, I took a strengths based test to determine what my top 5 strengths are. As I considered this habit of being proactive and my list of strengths, I soon realized that I am allowing my strategic mind to take over when I simply just need to plan ahead proactively. Sometimes I over-think a situation. My top strength in the Gallup Poll is Strategic. As I thought about this, it made sense. I want to be proactive, but my natural strategic ways insist that I simply analyze to determine the most efficient way. Hence, the feeling of being overwhelmed with the thought of all possible roadblocks with a particular decision. My habit is to find the most strategic way, but I should make it a habit to be proactive to avoid potential roadblocks. Being proactive rather than strategic means that I would consider potential problems before considering efficiency. Learning what my strengths are has been helpful. It allows for me to strengthen my reflective skills and analyze how I am making decisions. In this case of trying to be more proactive, I now see that sometimes the quickest way to complete a task is not the best way. Overall, it is those who are proactive who anticipate and avoid the roadblocks that can make a job difficult or the task unsuccessful. Time to become more proactive and maybe a little less strategic at times. I bet now you are wondering what the other strengths are! References: Gallup Strenghts https://www.gallupstrengthscenter.com/Home/en-US/Index Covey, Stephen R. The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. London: Simon & Schuster, 2005. Print. |