Proactive and Reactive Messages

Dr. Stephen Covey

There’s a new catch phrase making the rounds on the political scene lately. It ties in with the "Occupy Wall Street" protesters. It is called the “99%.” The idea is based on an attitude of isolation and exclusion. “99%” refers to everyone except those who have risen into the top percentile of personal income in the U.S. As President Obama scrambles to repair his poll numbers, he has found it useful to adopt the 99% phrase and incorporate it into his rhetoric. Will this tactic of heaping scorn on the most effective people in society work? It all depends on what context the term “work” is used in. What is effective “politically” and what constitutes effective leadership is not the same thing. Some of the worst scoundrels in human history were effective at winning elections. Or put another way. Yes it might work.
For a more useful survey of effective leadership, it is always wise to seek the experts. The most learned expert in the area of leadership is Dr. Stephen Covey who penned the wildly successful book, “The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People.” Covey's work is a must for any problem solving executive. Appropriately, Stephen Covey’s Habit # 1 frames the two alternative paths that America may well choose from in 2012. Covey suggests that the quintessential habit of every effective leader is the pattern of being “proactive.” Proactive is defined by Covey as resisting the temptation to transfer responsibility to others for one’s own actions. According to Covey, proactive people focus on what they can control, especially how they choose their responses to adversity. Covey offers many examples of the opposite approach to problems that is most common in “reactive” people. The reactive person, according to Covey prefers making excuses, blame shifting, and focusing on factors affecting their lives that are far beyond their control.

There is very good news for America. New GOP front runner Herman Cain has mastered the basic habit of being proactive. Born the son of a chauffeur and cleaning woman, Cain pursued a degree in mathematics as an undergraduate. Cain then moved on to the incredibly relevant field of computer science in the masters program at Purdue University. His professional career is a virtual highlight reel of having been dealt one serious challenge in problem-solving after another. Cain’s bosses at Pillsbury gave him the worst performing division in their Burger King chain. He turned it into their best performer. His application of leadership skills and taking the initiative led to a remarkable record of achievement. Cain’s calls for less dependence on government, an end to blame shifting aimed at the top percentile of income earners, and his repeated calls for more emphasis on personal responsibility, are all text book examples of Covey’s first and most important habit of highly effective people.

Barrack Obama’s approach to leadership provides an amazing contrast to Herman Cain's. Obama does not emphasize the adoption of an attitude by those dealt the same lot in life as Herman Cain, to take personal responsibility for upgrading their skills. Instead, Obama’s message encourages seeking government assistance while pointing an accusing finger at those who pay thirty-five or forty times "their  fair share” of the cost of running government. Unfortunately, Obama embraces a reactive approach to life and government. This requires an emphatic denial of the idea that people just like Herman Cain can climb the ladder of success in America. Obama's message requires Americans to believe their system is rigged against a Herman Cain. And the president's blame shifting targets are an easy ones. He questions the motives of the top 1% of all income earners and he encourages voters to do the same. Oolitical scientists might argue that Obama’s message of envy, rather than Cain’s calls for personal ambition and self reliance, will win. However, if Obama is successful in his efforts to demonize the top earners and blame shift, he will surely find himself in command of a nation that he has personally pre-conditioned to moan, whine, complain, and shift blame. And surely if he is successful in dumbing down America even further we will all be worse off.

Proactive and Reactive Messages