{"id":11655,"date":"2022-03-23T01:00:05","date_gmt":"2022-03-23T01:00:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/explorecareers.emotedigital.com.au\/?p=11655"},"modified":"2024-01-22T12:48:31","modified_gmt":"2024-01-22T01:48:31","slug":"proactive-vs-reactive-goal-setting-whats-the-difference-and-why-does-it-matter","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/explorecareers.com.au\/proactive-vs-reactive-goal-setting-whats-the-difference-and-why-does-it-matter\/","title":{"rendered":"Proactive vs. Reactive Goal Setting: What\u2019s the Difference and Why Does it Matter?"},"content":{"rendered":"

You\u2019ve probably been hearing a lot about setting goals and how great they are for helping you achieve success, especially with your schoolwork and studying.<\/strong><\/p>\n

We don\u2019t want to add to the noise, but something we\u2019ve been guilty of is setting reactive goals<\/strong> instead of proactive goals<\/strong> – learning the difference between the two has been a real game-changer!<\/p>\n

If you\u2019ve been struggling a bit with the whole \u2018life goals\u2019 thing, learning if you\u2019re setting reactive or proactive goals might help you set the right goals<\/em> and get started on achieving what success means to you. Let\u2019s dive in!<\/p>\n

What Are Reactive Goals?<\/strong><\/h4>\n

There\u2019s no hard definition of reactive goals, but here\u2019s how we\u2019ve been thinking about them:<\/p>\n

1. They\u2019re goals you make in response to a challenge or crisis that has already happened. <\/strong>This usually means you\u2019re working backwards to start moving forwards.<\/p>\n

For example:\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

You miss out on a work experience opportunity because you didn\u2019t set a reminder to get your application in on time. You set a goal to apply when the opportunity comes up again, but that\u2019s not until next year – so you lose time and a chance to get some experience on your resume ready to apply for part-time work.<\/p>\n

2. They\u2019re goals that someone else sets for you.<\/strong> This means you\u2019re probably not very passionate about them or invested in achieving them.<\/p>\n

For example:<\/strong><\/p>\n

You can\u2019t decide what career\/s you\u2019re interested in<\/a>. Your teacher and\/or parents decide for you and start pushing towards applying for work experience and choosing subjects in an area you don\u2019t mind but aren\u2019t passionate about.<\/p>\n

As you can tell from these examples – reactive goals probably will not help you progress towards what you want in life.<\/p>\n

What Are Proactive Goals?<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Proactive goal setting is all about putting yourself in the driver’s seat and deciding where you want to go!<\/p>\n

According to Merriam-Webster<\/a>, \u2018proactive\u2019 means \u201cacting in anticipation of future problems, needs, or changes<\/strong>.\u201d<\/p>\n

Being proactive means thinking through the actions, activities and processes you need to achieve the goals that are important to you.<\/p>\n

Instead of being reactive and focusing on what you need to do right now<\/em>, proactive goal-setting also allows you to set stepping stones in place for future you.<\/p>\n

How Do You Set a Proactive Goal?<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Proactive goals should focus on what you might call your \u2018Big Picture\u2019 ideas for life. This includes:<\/p>\n