Why proactive leaders need to be more than a one-trick pony

Positive leadership requires a good combination of foresight, initiative and drive. In essence, a leader should be proactive when change is required, otherwise, they could find themselves on the back foot as events unfold outside their control. 

That said, being proactive can come with a cost if it’s rushed or poorly planned. Quality outcomes may be lost in the eagerness and anticipation of overcoming a challenge. But the potential failures from a proactive approach are no reason to avoid trying something new. A proactive leader just has to take the right steps to reduce the risk of overconfidence.

What does proactive leadership look like?

• Key strengths of a proactive leader include long-term planning, active listening and problem-solving
• Rather than being reactive, proactive leaders often anticipate change because of their highly organised and intuitive nature 
• An air of calmness usually surrounds proactive leaders, helping to inspire intentional and meaningful change
• However, like all leaders, experience is everything and there will be times when something goes wrong even if a well-thought-out plan was in place

How can proactivity, something that seems incredibly positive, be a bad thing? After all, anticipating change and working to overcome challenges ahead of time is good. Not quite. 

Research from the University of Adelaide has found that while proactive workers are more likely to become good leaders, there’s no certainty of success according to lead author and Associate Professor Chad Chiu, Adelaide Business School.

“Our study provides empirical proof that having a proactive leader does not guarantee the building of a proactive team. When employees are dealing with a proactive yet incompetent leader, they tend to perceive the proposed proactive goals as too risky. They can become pessimistic about their own capabilities to be a proactive team,” explained Associate Professor Chiu. 

“Our data also demonstrates that this type of leader is even worse than a passive and incompetent one, as the passive boss will not consistently generate impractical ideas that cannot be well executed. In addition, proactive leaders may rush to offer assistance that their followers do not need, which undermines the team.” 

The Peter Principle is one of the main reasons for concern. As explored previously by Hello Leaders, the Peter Principle is a concept where competent employees are promoted until they finally reach a level of incompetence: their career plateaus. It’s at this point where a proactive person may find their skill level is no longer sufficient. This may lead to positive outcomes – such as learning new skills – or result in a role being filled by someone who can’t develop.

How to maximise full potential

The need for someone to lead innovation and change is always high and long-term thinkers willing to try something new will be supported. Associate Professor Chiu said proactive leaders also inspire higher levels of confidence and quality performance in their teams when they hold the relevant leadership and management skills. 

“Essential leadership competencies, including problem interpretation and analysis, gained via support, coaching, communication, and coordination, can equip managers to successfully execute proactive initiatives. We want to promote the idea of ‘wise proactivity’ within organisations,” he said.

So how can those competencies be improved?

• Management training is always beneficial for young or new leaders. It’s a great first step for employees with no formal experience, and it can even give experienced leaders a new perspective on entrenched habits.
• As highlighted by Associate Professor Chiu, mentorship and coaching can provide immeasurable benefits for proactive workers and leaders. The additional expertise will help to refine processes and formulate plans.
• Similarly, it can be easy for a proactive leader to forge ahead independently. Embracing teamwork means there will always be additional voices providing input and feedback, something beneficial to even the most experienced leader.
• Embrace failure. There will be initiatives that don’t succeed and targets that are not met. But rather than repeating mistakes or not trying again, proactive leaders must learn from their failures. Good things will come to those who learn, grow and persevere. 

Proactive leaders are an incredible asset to any business, especially in evolving industries like aged care and healthcare. With clear evidence supporting a proactive approach, any shortfalls can be overcome through diligence, hard work and… well, a proactive learning style.