Describe the difference between reactive behavior and proactive behavior.

Describe the difference between reactive behavior and proactive behavior.

• A. Reactive means predicting future events and proactive means waiting for problems.
• B. Reactive and proactive are identical strategies.
• C. Reactive means reacting to the past rather than predicting the future; proactive means acting before a situation worsens.
• D. Proactive means ignoring potential issues.

Answer: (C)

The main idea is about when you take action. Reactive behavior happens after something occurs—you respond to the event and deal with the consequences, often reacting to what has already happened. Proactive behavior means anticipating issues before they occur and taking steps now to prevent problems or improve future results. For example, fixing a machine after it breaks is reactive; performing regular maintenance to prevent breakdowns is proactive. In planning, scrambling to meet a deadline at the last minute is reactive, while scheduling work ahead of time to ensure on-time completion is proactive.

The main idea is about when you take action. Reactive behavior happens after something occurs—you respond to the event and deal with the consequences, often reacting to what has already happened. Proactive behavior means anticipating issues before they occur and taking steps now to prevent problems or improve future results. For example, fixing a machine after it breaks is reactive; performing regular maintenance to prevent breakdowns is proactive. In planning, scrambling to meet a deadline at the last minute is reactive, while scheduling work ahead of time to ensure on-time completion is proactive.