Many managers believe that their job is to resolve problems that arise. They wait for the next challenge. And many are excellent responders to those challenges.
Executive Summary
A reactive leader solves problems as they occur, but a proactive leader can prevent many of those problems from arising in the first place, says Executive Coach Marsha Egan. Here she discusses the benefits of a proactive leadership style and provides some questions to help you rate your own leadership skills.But isn’t the more important side of dealing with challenges the ability to head them off before they become problems? To stop them at the door?
This is the difference between reactive leadership, which solves problems as they occur, and proactive leadership, which focuses on preventing many problems from arising in the first place.
The ability to react to challenges and crises will always be a necessary skill. But your ability to deal proactively with issues can minimize those situations. Managing proactively can make way for you to deal more clearly and effectively with those crisis situations that inevitably come up.
