When organisations set out to recruit new employees, they are usually on the lookout for professionals who are not only skilled in delivering on the job but who also go the extra mile in ensuring that there are no loopholes or areas that are lacking in their team or department. Simply put, they are always seeking proactive employees.
A proactive communications professional is one who is not only skilled in their field but also exhibits other desired workplace ethics. They are intentional about preparing for challenges before they come up. They make valuable contributions to their team by efficiently carrying out their section of the world within the stipulated time.
Proactive professionals always take the initiative to identify and solve problems without any supervision or instructions from those above them.
Attributes of Proactive Communications Professionals
Being proactive shows that you are intentional and actively involved in your work. It also shows that you can add value to your organisation. It makes you reliable, knowing that you are on top of the situation before it arises.
This is a rare skill not too many people have and this is why it makes you a valuable asset to your organisation. Here are certain characteristics that are common with proactive communications professionals:
- Passion
It is almost impossible to be proactive in your workplace if you are not passionate and enthusiastic about what you do. Understanding the vital role you play as a communications expert in your organisation or for a client makes it easier for you to be more efficient and effective in what you do. This also means that you take extra steps in making sure you deliver on your KPIs in due time.
- Planning
In order to be proactive, you have to plan ahead. This also means preparing for issues before they even come up. When you plan ahead, you do not wait until the last minute to turn in tasks and are rarely found wanting on your job. This also means that you operate an organised work schedule with time allocated to different activities such as research, brainstorming, execution and so on.
- Calm and Positive Orientation
As a proactive professional, you won’t be caught in a frenzy when challenges arise because you would have prepared for them beforehand. In addition, you’ll also be able to come up with logical ways of tackling the problem at hand. This means that you’re more likely to work with a positive mindset which is very essential. You’ll also have a mindset where you believe that challenges and problems can be solved and you’ll be willing to think critically about ways of doing so.
- Analytical
Information gathering is a very important process that proactive professionals are intentional about. Equipped with the right knowledge and suggestions from team members, a proactive professional can make informed decisions that would boost the company’s reputation and productivity.
- Effective Communicators
More than just being proactive, you’ll be able to communicate your ideas or concepts to superiors and other team members effectively. This will keep everyone adequately informed and it’ll also help you to understand what is expected of you.
Tips on Becoming a Proactive Communications professional
There are active steps you can take towards becoming a proactive communications professional and some of them are:
- You have to be focused
Focus is a vital element for successful professionals regardless of the industry. You cannot successfully make a difference in your field if you’re not focused. For you to be prepared for incoming challenges, you have to be focused and aware of events and activities happening around you.
- You have to be organised
As a communications professional with different tasks always on your table, you have to be deliberate about organizing your work schedule and time allocated to certain tasks. This will help you to carve out time that can be spent carrying out useful research on other projects or possible challenges and how to deal with them. Being organised is a core characteristic of a proactive person and should not be taken for granted.
- Be willing to help others
If you want to make an impact in any place or position you are in, you have to look beyond yourself. Knowing that you are only a part of the puzzle and lapses from other team members or colleagues can jeopardize your work makes you willing to help others within your capacity. Techniques and hacks you have devised that work for you can be shared with others to guarantee the successful delivery of the project. You will be known as a go-to person in the organisation and this adds to the value you provide.
- Be diligent
There is no excuse or replacement for hard work. To be a proactive communications professional, you have to be ready to put in the work. Being proactive also means being accountable to yourself in terms of finishing tasks on time, delivering on projects or working with team members. Being actively involved in what is going on in your organisation is a key trait of a proactive professional. You’re not on the sidelines observing, you actually roll up your sleeves and do the work.
- Have foresight and be resourceful
When you are proactive, it will reflect in the way that you think and act. As a proactive professional, you should understand that things won’t always go as planned. You do not act on impulse because you have contingency plans. This means that you do not procrastinate or wait until the last minute to get some things done.
Being a proactive communications professional requires a high level of commitment and willingness to take responsibility. It means that you are more focused on preventing issues and planning toward possible challenges. When you are a proactive communications professional, you effectively deliver on your objectives which is the goal of every professional. If you consistently do this, you will stand out from the rest of the crowd. You will also be an asset to your organisation – one that cannot be easily replaced.
