Proactiveness vs preemptiveness? Which one do you think works best in the workplace? As an employee, what attribute would best describe you?
Proactiveness vs preemptiveness is something that can be difficult to decipher. Most especially that there’s just a thin line between the two. However do not fret as we are going to examine the difference and how these two attributes can be applied in our workplace.
Proactiveness
Proactiveness is when you take the initiative rather than react to an event. In addition according to Collins Dictionary, this is tending to initiate change rather than reacting to events. Many self-help books are encouraging us to be proactive individuals and in our personal lives. A typical example of being proactive is to earn a raise. Many books would suggest heading to your boss, asking for it and negotiating. Do not also wait to meet one gifted teacher in order to teach you the things you would want to learn. Actively look for that teacher.
The earliest use of the word proactive was a deliberate contrast to the word reactive. In a 1946 book by Emil Frankly, having a proactive mindset can allow positive, constructive progress and learning. A reactive mindset on the other hand resets the cycle of hatred and violence. The definition stems on the world’s response to the Holocaust back then.
So how can we apply proactiveness in our workplace?
Observe and initiate. A proactive employee tends to see things on how they could possibly improve and air it out to the bosses or the management. Rather than wait for instructions on what to do and strategies to implement, they tend to do it now. Take control and make things happen. Be structured and organize as these habits can fuel proactiveness. And proactive employees are rare gems in the organization.
Preemptiveness
Preemptiveness on the other hand is when you take action to prevent something from happening or even someone from doing something. From Collins Dictionary, this is made to shut out something, reduce and even destroy. A good example would be the popular phrase “a pre-emptive strike”.
Preemptive on the other hand is a different word entirely. This is way older as this was formed around the 1830s. The analogy behind the word is to “cancel” or “prevent”. Hence in acting one, you must be able to foresee a potential threat and take action in order to stall it or prevent it from happening. This is why this is very much different from proactiveness. When you are proactive, you perceive the facts clearly hence taking constructive action. When you are preemptive, you assess facts and also act in response to those.
So how can we apply preemptiveness in our workplace?
Management can have the necessary interventions even before something occurs. There’s always conflict in an organization, hence in order to prevent that, management must be able to deliver ways and means to lessen and prevent such by constant team building and doing recreational activities among the employees.
If you are looking for both a proactive and preemptive workplace, SiBS, a rural BPO in Tagum City is a good example. The management for one is exhibiting the two traits making one dynamic workplace for anyone. This is evident by their number of years in the BPO industry thriving along the way. Plus, you need not look far.
