Proactive vs. Reactive Personality Traits

What does it mean to be reactive vs. proactive at work? Business experts often talk about the benefits of proactiveness, and the downsides of reactivity. But we're going to talk about them in a different light, as personality traits that impact a person's working style, both with advantages and challenges.

A quick reminder before we dive in: whether a person is reactive or proactive is only one element of their overall personality profile. Be sure to consider their other traits, as well as their overall personality types (A, B, C, and D in our tests).

What does it mean to be reactive at work?

Signs that an employee has reactive personality traits.

Someone who has a reactive personality tends to wait for things to happen before they act. However, once things happen, employees with a reactive personality are generally capable of working very quickly and with flexibility.

What are the characteristics of a reactive person?

Here are a few reactive behaviors at work that suggests an employee may have a reactive personality:

They wait until problems pop up to address the underlying issue, or might only ever address the symptom.
When problems do occur, they're usually quick to address things.
They tend to manage the pressure of “putting out fires” fairly well.
They work well under pressure and exercise good judgment on the fly.
Some may struggle to stay on top of things and find themselves constantly playing catch-up.

How to work with someone who has reactive personality traits

People with a reactive personality bring the benefit of sharp reaction skills to the workplace, but they can also frustrate those on your team who have a proactive personality.

How to train a reactive employee

Those employees prone to reactive behavior may respond impulsively and jump to a defensive attitude in certain circumstances. It is worth taking some extra thought when it comes to designing training for reactive workers.

Try to get an understanding of what might trigger them to be defensive and build your program around those triggers.
They will benefit from a program that helps them understand emotional responses so that they can gain control over them and respond constructively.
Clearly detail the tasks, deadlines, and goals the reactive employee should focus on.
Coach the employee on how to react to problems and spot opportunities. Some reactive employees will overreact and become easily stymied—talk them through problem-solving steps and strategies.
Consider adding stress management techniques to your training to help these employees have more measured and thoughtful responses.

How to motivate someone who is reactive

A reactive person tends to respond to emotional rewards, such as recognition and praise. Positive reinforcement keeps a reactive employee focused on goals.

Recognize and acknowledge when your reactive employees handle a tricky problem quickly and smoothly.
Position challenges as opportunities for growth, not threats, so that they keep a constructive mindset.
If you can, have the person “own” tasks that involve a lot of reacting (such as fielding help desk tickets, fixing tech glitches, or whatever makes sense for their role).

How to give feedback to a reactive employee

Criticism has an outsized effect on reactive personalities, which can quickly demotivate them. Be sure to balance any criticism with positive comments. The right kind of feedback will keep someone with a reactive personality moving forward in a positive way.

Give frequent feedback. When the feedback feels continuous, normal, and expected, employees will give it the appropriate weight and see it as part of the bigger picture.
Reactive employees will tend to overreact if feedback is sporadic or only about problems. It's not great for proactive employees, either.
Sandwich a negative observation between two positive ones.

ChatGPT prompts for a performance review of a reactive employee

You can use AI tools like ChatGPT to amplify your capabilities and make the best use of your time when preparing performance reviews. You can use the example prompts below to ask AI to generate relevant and insightful comments that you can then adapt to a particular person in a performance review.

Sample HR prompt for reactive employee:

I would like to provide feedback to an employee during their performance review. This employee has a reactive personality and tends to wait until problems pop up, leading to increased pressure and stress. They're very capable in their role as a graphic designer, but I'd like to see them grow their soft skills more by being more proactive and anticipating problems. Can you share 3-4 sentences about this for their review?

Sample AI-generated response:

“You excel in your role as a graphic designer, consistently delivering high-quality work. However, I've noticed that you tend to address issues only when they arise, which can lead to increased pressure and stress. I encourage you to focus on developing a more proactive approach by anticipating potential challenges and taking action before problems occur. By doing so, you can enhance your workflow, reduce stress, and contribute even more effectively to the team.”

Sample HR prompts for direct supervisors will help them coach an employee with a reactive personality on how to show more initiative at work:

How can I guide a reactive employee to develop their ability to plan ahead and take action, without waiting for instructions?
What specific goals can be set to help a reactive employee gradually become more proactive in their work?
What support or resources can be provided to help a reactive employee build confidence in taking initiative?

Good jobs for people with a reactive personality

People with a reactive personality thrive in roles that require quick thinking, a problem-solving mindset, and the ability to adapt to changing circumstances, such as:

Customer service representative
IT support specialist
Administrative assistant
Cleaner
Receptionist
Event coordinator
Security guard
Quality assurance specialist

What are the opposite of reactive personality traits?

Proactive employees represent the other end of the spectrum. Comparing proactive vs. reactive personalities, you will find this personality type does not wait for problems and opportunities to present themselves. Proactive people go out and make things happen.

What does it mean to be proactive at work?

Signs that an employee has proactive personality traits.

People who possess proactive personality traits tend to strive for a specific goal. They make things happen and are generally good at maneuvering situations, and people, toward their desired outcome.

What are the characteristics of a proactive person?

Here are a few signs of an employee with proactive personality traits:

They ask questions, suggest ideas, and make comments on things beyond the scope of their day-to-day tasks.
They anticipate potential problems and work to solve underlying issues before trouble starts.
“Wait and see” is not in their vocabulary.
They tend to be good at working with (or sometimes manipulating) other people to get the outcome they want.
Others might become frustrated by their single-mindedness.

How to work with someone who has proactive personality traits

There are steps you can take to ensure that the proactive personalities on your team thrive.

How to train a proactive person

Because they are forward-thinking, take the initiative, and are highly self-motivated, people with proactive personalities benefit from self-directed learning environments that present a clear challenge and reward.

Put the proactive personality trait to good use! Give plenty of details about goals, projects, and potential pitfalls so that proactive employees can dream up realistic new ideas and solutions.
Clearly define priorities and responsibilities. Proactive people sometimes go too far beyond the scope of their role in a way that isn't helpful.
With the proactive vs. reactive employee, the proactiveness may be ideal for future leadership positions. Consider developing leadership skills in training.

How to motivate a proactive employee

What does it mean to be proactive as an employee? Many with this personality trait are ambitious self-starters who like to innovate and eagerly seek rewards. Give them general goals, autonomy in reaching them, and specify a clear reward.

Make sure your proactive employee has time to think ahead and put their proactiveness to use. They won't be happy playing catch-up in the long term.
Give space for proactivity! Many employers pay lip service to the virtues of being proactive, but don't have time when employees suggest new ideas, point out opportunities for growth, or try new ways of doing something. If you really listen to your team's proactive feedback and take it seriously, even if things can't change, you'll do wonders for morale.

How to give feedback to someone who is proactive

Specifics matter to a proactive employee. Tell them exactly what they did that was successful, and not.

A person with a proactive personality type is less likely to be defensive and will see feedback as important to their growth. Because they tend to be more self-aware, encourage self-assessment and the opportunity to take ownership of their own development.
You may have to draw clear boundaries about what things your proactive employee “owns” and what they don't. For example, if a proactive person is doing another person's job because they just can't wait, make sure you clearly communicate that it's not OK.
Keep an eye out for things your proactive employees do that go above and beyond. Proactive person will often go out of their way to make things better and fix problems that everyone else ignores. Make sure you're noticing that effort and thanking your proactive employee.

ChatGPT prompts for a performance review of a proactive employee

Using AI tools for reactive vs. proactive personality types is similar in preparing performance reviews. With the right prompts, tools like ChatGPT can give you insightful observations that you can adapt for a specific person and situation. The prompts below save you time and effort in creating performance reviews that support proactive personalities in staying motivated and reaching their full potential.

Sample HR prompt for a proactive personality:

I would like to provide feedback to an employee during their performance review. This employee has a proactive personality and tends to take initiative before receiving direction, leading to conflicts with their supervisor. They're very capable in their role as a data analyst, but I'd like to see them grow their soft skills more by being more patient and comfortable with delegation. Can you share 3-4 sentences about this for their review?

Sample AI-generated response:

“You consistently demonstrate strong initiative and a proactive approach, which are valuable qualities in your role as a data analyst. However, there have been instances where taking action without prior direction has led to misunderstandings with your supervisor. I encourage you to focus on developing your soft skills, particularly in being patient and more comfortable with delegation. By balancing your proactive nature with clear communication and collaboration, you can further enhance your effectiveness and strengthen team cohesion.”

Sample HR prompts for direct supervisors to help coach an employee with a proactive personality on how to show more patience at work include:

What soft skills, such as patience, delegation, or active listening, could the employee further develop to complement their proactive nature?
How can the proactive employee better balance their initiative with collaboration and communication with their team or supervisor?
How can the employee leverage their proactive strengths to mentor or support colleagues in developing similar skills?

Good jobs for people with a proactive personality

People with this personality type naturally take the initiative, are effective strategists and planners, and thrive when making progress. Some of the roles that suit proactive employees include:

Project manager
Consultant
Sales representative
Recruiter
Entrepreneur
Journalist/writer
Graphic designer
Real estate agent

Reactive vs. proactive: which is better in the workplace?

Both reactive and proactive people bring strengths and weaknesses to the table. Being reactive or proactive at work might be especially important for certain roles. It also depends on the employee's other major personality traits. Read all of our personality trait descriptions for more insight, or learn about the four personality types.

Understanding the difference between these traits can help you tap into your team's strengths and hire more effectively for open roles. Hire Success^® offers additional insight into both your current employees and your potential hires.