In the lexicon of modern business, “proactivity” has been elevated to the status of a magical cure-all. We are told that relentless action is the key to 10x growth. This is a dangerous misconception. Through my work consulting with entrepreneurs and SMEs, I have observed a phenomenon I call Reactive Proactivity: a state of hyper-activity that feels productive but lacks the strategic architecture to drive real growth. True proactivity is not about doing more; it is about thinking ahead. It is the empathy to understand a process of change before it happens, not the arrogance of believing you are busier than everyone else.
1. The Trap of the Reactive Entrepreneur
The most common symptom of a business without a plan is reactivity. Reactive entrepreneurs act on impulse, driven by the urgency of the present moment rather than a vision of the future. They wait for a crisis—usually a drop in sales—before they think about marketing, Design, or strategy.
This kind of approach leads to a “chronic situation” where, out of desperation, they hire non-professional services to stop bleeding. This is not a strategy; it is a reflex. It damages the brand’s long-term standing in consumers’ minds and erodes trust in professional disciplines.
Reactive Design is an oxymoron. Design is projection; reaction is correction. To design based on error is not designing; it is merely editing the past.
2. The Dark Side of Proactivity: Chaos Disguised as Action
However, the pendulum can swing too far. There is a “marketing of self-improvement” that sells proactivity as a form of relentless activism. This idea is false proactivity.
When an entrepreneur confuses restlessness with proactivity, they become a chaotic force within their own organization. They act fast, aggressively, and insensitively, believing that speed equals progress. This Toxic Proactivity slows down development because it replaces intellectual capacity with subjective impulse.
I have seen highly proactive leaders become depressed and frustrated because their teams cannot keep up with their chaotic pace. They mistake their own anxiety for efficiency.
3. True Proactivity: Adaptability and Anticipation
So, what is the definition of strategic proactivity? It is the ability to take control based on a prefigured plan that accounts for multiple scenarios.
True proactivity is:
- Anticipation: Using knowledge to predict outcomes before they occur.
- Adaptability: Being able to shift tactics without losing sight of the strategic objective.
- Values-Driven: Moving based on carefully meditated values, not immediate emotional impulses.
The “medicine” for reactivity is not just action, but Projectual Thinking—pre-visualizing scenarios so that when you do act, it is with precision, not desperation.
Conclusion
We must stop associating proactivity with “productivity” and start associating it with adaptability. A reactive business survives day-to-day; a falsely proactive business burns out; but a strategically proactive business grows because it has already solved tomorrow’s problems today.
Tell me how extensive your knowledge is, and I will tell you whether you can be proactive.
Recommended Thematic Readings:
- Grant, A. Originals: How Non-Conformists Move the World.
- Covey, S. The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People.
- Valverde, J. L. Proactividad Reactiva.
- Drucker, P. Innovation and Entrepreneurship.
