Be Proactive
Being proactive means that you do things before they have to be done. By being proactive, you stay on top of matters and don’t let them get out of control. Customers generally prefer doing business with a supplier who is proactive rather than one who is constantly in a reactive mode. When you find yourself reacting to a problem or situation with your customer, you can do little more than “damage control.” Usually in a reactive mode, you can expend a great deal of energy and not do anything but avoid some catastrophe from occurring. Being proactive usually requires much less time and effort than waiting until you have to react to an emergency situation. Being proactive also creates less anxiety and tension for everyone, most importantly the customer.
Think of a situation you have experienced when dealing with a customer in which you found yourself in a reactive mode. What did you have to do to deal with this situation?
How could being proactive have prevented this situation from becoming the problem it developed into?
How much less time and energy would being proactive involve versus waiting until you found yourself reacting?
Which would your customer(s) rather you be—reactive or proactive? ________________________________________
How can you be more proactive with your customers in the future?