Focus 3 
Thinking is one of the primary ways we plan and pursue objectives in life and at work, and it is one of the primary ways we look at, evaluate, and respond to the events and situations we experience. Effective thinking produces successful responses and action. Ineffective thinking produces less-than-successful responses.
There are 3 basic kinds of thinking: inactive, reactive, and proactive.
- Inactive Thinking is characterized by indifference, laziness, cynicism, and procrastination. It lacks passion and enthusiasm, and looks for reasons to disengage. Fear and fatigue can be contributing factors. Inactive thinking is often driven by a desire to stay in the comfort zone. This kind of thinking doesn’t solve problems and leads to ineffective action.
Arrogance and overconfidence can also produce inactive thinking. When people (sometimes highly intelligent people) think they know more than they do, they stop thinking too soon and fail to do the hard work of getting and evaluating all the necessary information. The result is poor decisions, unsolved problems, and misguided action.
- Reactive Thinking is impulsive, hasty, and defensive. It is driven by undisciplined emotion and can be very combative. Fear and fatigue are contributing factors here, as well. Reactive thinking is resistant to feedback, and does not like to admit mistakes. It fears failure. Reactive thinking is quick to rationalize, and we often use it to defend our behavior when what we really need to do is manage our behavior.
Because this kind of thinking can be highly emotional, it tends to react to feelings about a situation rather than respond to the situation itself. People avoid talking to reactive thinkers and don’t feel comfortable telling them the truth. Reactive thinking diminishes trust and teamwork.
- Proactive Thinking is focused on goals and action-oriented. It is purpose-driven. Proactive thinking is guided by core values and a desire to produce results. It is characterized by positive energy, full engagement, and high levels of self-awareness. Proactive thinking seeks feedback and different perspectives. It has a unique balance of patience and urgency.
Proactive thinking feels a strong sense of urgency, but also considers the effectiveness of the action. It constantly asks, “what action will most likely produce the results I want?” Proactive thinking readily admits mistakes and then makes corrections. It is not afraid of failure and learns from mistakes.
Inactive and reactive thinking are easy because they are the path of least resistance. It doesn’t require much effort to be lazy or to surrender to an impulse. Inactive and reactive thinking also tend to be habit-forming. Laziness and impulsiveness become easier to repeat the more you engage in them.
Proactive thinking is hard work, but the good news is that proactive thinking is also habit-forming. The more you discipline yourself to think proactively about life and work, the more effective you become in your thinking habits.
What kind of thinker are you? In what situations do you tend to be inactive or reactive? In what situations do you tend to be proactive?
Think about it …
