Being proactive in a work place can mean a lot of things. For a manager, to be proactive is the be able to delegate. Delegation is an essential element of any manager's job. Used effectively it provides real benefits for everyone involved. The way you delegate proves how proactive you can really be in the workplace. Things like motivation, priority, loyalty, feedbacks and allocation of resources are all directly related to how proactive you can be in your work environment.
Being proactive in the workplace is important because organizations are increasingly complex and get even worse as they grow. Any kind of success, especially if it is a managerial success comes out of being proactive. Delegation comes hand in hand with it and the basic issues involved are control and ability to work in ambiguous conditions.
Most people while choosing a delegate often see how proactive the person is. Hence the person will be fully capable of performing the task within available resources. The unending process of being proactive is integral to the manager's role. In fact any work person needs to be proactive or else the work environment tends to have weak links as performance rates shift into imbalance.
There are times when you can lose control of tasks. That doesn't mean that inactiveness is the key or the answer. The desire to be in control is a common human trait and being proactive is the only way where you can work on the problem no matter how large it is.
The basic mechanics of the delegation process involve common management skills and delegators have to be proactive all the time. Though it is a self teaching activity- being proactive keeps a lot of things steady both in the work place as well as within ones individual self.
Being proactive in the workplace also means that it is important to have a postitve attitude towards the work place and the fellow workers as well. There may be points where one may feel insecure and some may feel that a particular job must be done "my way". It is important to resist such feelings and carry on with a wide scope and perception.
Resist any urge you may have to interfere more than necessary, as this will only create more work and worry, thus defeating the object of the business.
Being proactive also means to be able to overcome barriers in the work place and not get bogged down with things. It is very important to not pass on the buck on some one else's shoulders and sit back and relax and take credit for things you have not done or contributed to.