Empowerment and Proactivity Cdr Tim Quinn Fall 2007

What is Proactivity What is Proactivity  Acting in advance to deal with an expected difficulty — Not waiting to be told or “See what happens”  Taking initiative AND responsibility  Accept circumstances, make conscious decisions, and take positive actions to achieve unit’s goals

Qualities of Proactive People  Accept circumstances for what they are — Don’t worry about things they can’t control — Produce consistent quality regardless  Make things happen — Face reality and get most out of environment — Choose their course of action  Seek knowledge and understanding to improve performance — Acknowledge mistakes to learn and improve  Positive Thinkers/Energetic  Accept responsibility/Hold themselves accountable

Proactive is NOT  Pushy, obnoxious, or aggressive  Defying orders  Bypassing the chain of command  Modifying responsibility  Sidestepping accountability because of convenience

Proactive vs. Reactive  Reactive people allow problems/circumstances to control their actions  Lack foresight, often caught unprepared  Often forced into a decision rather than choosing how to act  Focus on problems they cannot control; Often consuming areas they could control  Negative thinkers/Filters through whole group  Don’t acknowledge mistakes — Rationalize, justify why it’s not their fault — Allows original mistake to get bigger

Proactive vs. Reactive Language Proactive “I choose” “I prefer” “I’ll look at my options” “I’ll try a different way” “I’ll adjust my priorities”Reactive “I can’t” “I have to” “There’s nothing I can do” “I am what I am” “I’m too busy” This language reveals the root attitude and overall commitment of person

Empowerment  What is it? — Yield power to those who can “get the job done” (vice hoarding)  Two types: Formal – authority and responsibility that comes with a rank or position Informal – sharing power (responsibility and information) to subordinates to meet common goals  Empowered people are not afraid to assume responsibility and be held accountable because they are confident their actions will be worthwhile

Why is Empowerment Important?  Facilitates teamwork, helps build consensus  Improves decision-making — Subordinates feel like “part of the team” — Know they’ll be listened to and taken seriously  Help develop subordinates — Harness individual talents to the fullest — Build possible future leaders  Empowerment encourages proactivity — One fails without the other — Proactive personnel will be rewarded with greater empowerment

Empowerment and Proactivity AAll the empowerment vested in a person is useless if the person fails to act WWhen fostered carefully, both become valuable tools to a leader in building a positive, productive, and successful command culture

Leader empowers subordinates Empowerment encourages personnel to be proactive Proactive personnel rewarded w/further empowerment

Questions?