We’re wrapping up our short series on leadership choices today, focusing on the difference between proactive leadership and reactive leadership.
While proactive leaders empower others, reactive leaders micro-manage others. The latter try to control even the smallest details. This isn’t the same as having an attention to detail and accountability, which are productive, helpful skills. Micro-management isn’t helpful for anyone. It steals opportunities and ownership from those who serve under such leaders. It doesn’t allow an environment where asking questions and making suggestions are welcome. Therefore, the people who follow become reactive as well—anxious about messing up, bringing concerns to leaders, and waiting to get told they are insufficient. Micro-management paralyzes progress.
When proactive leaders empower others, they don’t let others make every decision. They invite input. They ask questions. They listen. They engage. They don’t stand over and intimidate others, but they don’t stay distant either. They keep every snapshot, or moment in time, in context instead of overreacting on a whim. Proactive leaders take their own responsibility seriously. They continually attempt to see a broader perspective. They know the long term goals; they also know they will need a team to take the next steps. On the other hand, reactionary leaders might share a dream, a direction in which they want to go, but their focus on short term fixes stunts the growth and create barricades to progress. There are too many detours and distractions to move forward at a rate of any significance.
Reactionary leaders often exhaust their teams. They create stress and uncertainty. Depending on the people they trust in pivotal positions, they might not undermine all processes, but they still breed uncertainty. It’s a culture of “Squirrel!” Where the reactionary leader points, others are expected to look, and that often unnecessarily distracts them from routine expectations and responsibilities. A proactive leader recognizes where people are, what is going on in their lives, their strengths and weaknesses, and more. The difference between reactive and proactive leaders has similarities to woodworking. Proactive leaders work with the grain of the wood to bring out the beauty and strength that is already there. Reactive leaders work against the grain—but not consistently—and try to make it what they want it to be.
How important is empowerment to you? Do you value investment in people enough to make sacrifices, including time and energy to listen and meet people where they are? Are you willing to change in healthy ways, equipping others to change? When you consider the people you influence, what are your goals? What are your values? What would others say about you, and would any of it convict and challenge you? Reflecting is important. No matter where you assess you are as you influence others, you can and should grow. There are always possibilities for you to become better, not to perform or put on a façade. Quite the opposite. Becoming better is about revealing more of who you were created to be. It’s not a response to others’ opinions but proactively inviting the healthiest accountability to help you grow. Being the healthiest you requires continual humility and reflection. And it’s worth the investment, as you influence and are influenced.
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