Is being proactive good for your wellbeing?

Most of us want to be proactive in our lives. This is because we believe that by being more and more proactive, we can achieve more in our lives. In our previous article, we had mentioned what being proactive means and how you can be more proactive. In case you have missed it out, you may read it by clicking here. However, researchers have long been pondering about the actual benefits of being proactive, especially for individual wellbeing. Is being proactive good all the time? If no, under what circumstances is it bad? Does it mean that your efforts to enhance proactivity will lead to decreased wellbeing? Read this article to find out the answers backed by research evidence.

What is proactivity?

Proactivity refers to anticipatory, self-initiated and goal-directed behavior. A proactive person is one who can think ahead and foresee possible future conflicts and scenarios. In addition, such individuals also take the initiative to change so as to adapt to the upcoming event. They are good planners, excellent team players and know when and to whom to delegate work. Proactive individuals are not passive respondents. Rather, they are co-creators of the situation itself.

Based on the description of a proactive person, you may be tempted to conclude that being proactive is a strong predictor of success in work life. You are right. However, what is the impact of proactive behavior on wellbeing? In addition, sometimes, the situation is such, that even a positive action on your part may be perceived negatively. Such is the case with proactivity too. In certain situations, proactivity may decrease your wellbeing. Let’s explore how.

Cangiano and colleagues conducted extensive research that was published in the Journal of Organizational Behaviour in the year 2018. They explained in great detail how proactivity can enhance wellbeing in certain situations while decreasing the same in other situations.

When does proactivity increase wellbeing?

Drawing from the self-determination theory, Cangiano and colleagues developed an energy-generating pathway of proactive behavior in the workplace. They claimed that when individuals engage in proactive behavior, they experience positive feelings and vitality. In other words, being proactive in the workplace is a source of energy and aliveness. Such vitality and aliveness are a result of an increase in the sense of perceived competence. Perceived competence refers to a feeling of being able to perform ones’ job well. It is one of the innate drives as described in the self-determination theory. This assumption is also prevalent in Ryff’s conceptualization of wellbeing: competence and mastery over the environment is a predictor of wellbeing.

How does proactivity increase perceived competence?

1. Proactivity enhances challenge. Since we do not know the exact outcomes of the behaviour, we might feel optimally challenged when we are being proactive. Also, proactive behaviour is change-oriented. Change is challenging in nature. In addition to this, proactive behaviour may also lie beyond the formal job description. Thereby, making it more challenging. Research suggests that completion of challenging jobs increase feelings of competence. The same is true for proactive behaviour.
2. Most of the time, proactivity leads to success. This is because when we are proactive in dealing with challenges, we often have an edge in terms of time and efforts. We are prepared before the dire need for action arises. Therefore, the chances of success are also high. When we are successful, we feel competent.
3. Since proactive behaviour is self-initiated, success and positive outcomes are attributed to the self. This also increases perceived competence.

Therefore, when we engage in proactive behaviour, we feel competent. Competence is an innate drive. The fulfilment of our needs and drives strongly enhances feelings of wellbeing. Therefore, proactive behaviour enhances wellbeing when we are successful at the task.

When does proactivity decrease wellbeing?

Proactive behavior is risky in nature. We do not know what fruits our actions will reap in the future. Moreover, proactive behavior is change-oriented and individuals are averse to change. Hence, our proactive efforts might not be welcome by our co-workers. As a result, the person driving proactive change has to pass through several barriers. First and foremost, they have to convince their supervisors that the change is impending and it is better to embrace it before it becomes too late. Then they have to convince other top management decision-makers. After this comes the challenge of communicating the change initiative to the other members of the organization, overcoming resistance from their side and gaining the trust of all stakeholders. Sounds tiring, doesn’t it?

In addition, there is a component of risk. Since the outcomes are uncertain, a proactive person does not know whether his or her efforts will see success. This may optimally challenge some people. However, some people may also perceive it as a threat. Therefore, proactive behavior can also induce anxiety.

The third reason for proactivity to be detrimental is explained by the resource depletion theory. Every individual has a fixed amount of cognitive energy for performing all daily chores and home and work. A proactive person often expends too much effort in the workplace because they may be taking more work than they can deliver. This might lead to exhaustion and depletion of resources at the end of the day. Research suggests that many times, proactive people experience more exhaustion and fatigue at the end of the day and the following morning as well because they are constantly spending their cognitive resources. This leads to increased and prolonged stress due to allostatic load. Hence, being extremely proactive at work might be detrimental to wellbeing.

Implications

Feeling confused about whether to be proactive and be more successful at the cost of your wellbeing? Do not worry. Most of the time, we can strike a balance. Keep the following things in mind:

1. Make sure that your proactivity is driven by autonomy. Do not push yourself too hard to be proactive just because your colleagues are doing so. Be proactive only in causes you believe in. Do not be a pawn in your colleagues’ dreams. Proactivity should be driven by autonomy. Proactivity, together with autonomy is likely to enhance wellbeing.
2. Delegate work. Even when you are the initiator and driver of the change, keep in mind that you cannot do all the work yourself. You have to delegate work to others as well. This will not only decrease your work stress but also increase chances of success, thereby, enhancing wellbeing.
3. Understand the importance of leisure. If you take breaks in between work, you are more likely to be able to sustain in the long run. If you drain all your resources today, there will be none left for tomorrow. Hence, the replenishment of resources is also important for wellbeing.

Sharing is caring!