Reactive

What is Reactive Management?

Reactive management refers to a situation in which you can't – or don't – plan ahead for problems or opportunities. Instead, you react to them as they happen.

As a result, you're always a step behind. You don't have time to look ahead to pre-empt problems, so they seem to happen "out of the blue."

In contrast, proactive management happens when you plan ahead to avoid or manage problems

Why Reactive Management Happens

You might be in a reactive state for several reasons. For example:

• A crisis may have forced you to change or abandon your plans. You need to make short-term decisions to cope with a fast-developing situation.
• Your organization may have poorly planned processes or policies. You need to spend your time fixing these or working around them, instead of planning for the future.
• You may find a reactive management style exciting. People can enjoy the "buzz" that goes along with it.