Behavioral Scale Deep Dive: Low Proactivity

Proactivity: The desire to pursue achievement of excellence in activities acknowledged by others as important for status in a community.

In contrast to last week’s high scorer in proactivity, low scorers in proactivity take a much more easygoing approach to life. Let’s take a look at what motivates these more carefree, relaxed people!

Low Proactivity

Meet Kelly. Kelly likes to chill out and is never in a hurry. She doesn’t often set goals and prefers to go with the flow, getting to things when she gets to them. She often treats deadlines as “loose suggestions” and doesn’t get too caught up with reaching a destination. She could spend a whole day laying at the beach, doing absolutely nothing and not feel guilty about it at all.

Kelly is a good example of someone with a low score in Proactivity. She: 

Is relaxed, casual & easygoing

Prefers a more carefree and less stressed approach to life

Tends to prefer the process, and is not as goal oriented

Is patient with herself and others

Likes to “take it easy” and may be less venturesome

 

Tips for Managing Low Scorers

Although people with a low score in proactivity can provide a relaxing, calming effect on their more hyper-active counterparts, their “relaxed” behavior can also show up as procrastination, missed deadlines, and indulgence in distractions (or a perceived general laziness). Work is likely not the most important part of this person’s life, which can have both advantages and disadvantages.

Here are a few tips to encourage the growth of someone with a low proactivity score:

They may benefit from making a daily list of priorities, but please realize, this task is not natural for the low scorer in Proactivity. Encourage them to ask someone to help them with the list, and have them review the list at the beginning and end of every day. This could also be achieved using technology like an app for noting tasks and priorities.

Building distractions into the day motivates this type of person. For example, allowing them a short time for play, a video game, time with friends, etc., after a task is completed is one idea.

Extracurricular activities could be an area of excellence for a low scorer in Proactivity.

Pair them with people who are more driven – they will help support and encourage them in meeting deadlines and goals.