From reactive to proactive, and then to ownership mindset
From simply reacting to things, to taking initiative, and finally to fully owning my work and goals.
I've been working as a user experience designer for several years now, and I'd like to share some reflections on the mindset shifts that have been most impactful for me in my journey.
When I started my career, I didn't have a design background. Both my undergraduate and graduate degrees were in computer science. If everything had gone according to plan, I might be a software engineer today. But during my undergraduate years, I realized that I didn't enjoy programming, even though I wasn't sure what else I could do. I felt lost and unsure about my future path, so I focused on getting good grades and working hard, even in subjects I didn't love.
It was while studying in the US that I first learned about the possibility of becoming a user experience designer. At the time, online courses weren't as abundant as they are now, and my school didn't offer design classes. But I knew in my heart that I didn't want to be a software engineer, so I decided to go all-in on learning how to become a UX designer. I read books, attended events, did unpaid internships, wrote blogs, and worked on projects. I squeezed every bit of time I had before graduation, trying every possible way I can think of to make the career change.
Looking back, I'm grateful for the challenges and uncertainties I faced during that time. They taught me the importance of taking ownership of my own path and being proactive in pursuing my goals, even when the way forward wasn't clear.
From reactive to proactive
In my experience, shifting from a reactive to a proactive mindset has been one of the most transformative changes in my work and life. When I was in a reactive mode, I often felt like I was at the mercy of external circumstances. I waited for others to tell me what to do or give me permission to act, and I didn't feel fully in control of my own success or growth.
Learning to be proactive was a gradual process for me. It started with small changes, like taking initiative on projects at work, even when I wasn't explicitly asked to do so. It meant learning to anticipate challenges and opportunities, rather than simply reacting to them as they arose. And it required a willingness to take ownership of my own learning and development, rather than waiting for others to provide me with training or guidance.
Cao Zheng, an author I respect, wrote about the difference between a reactive and a proactive mindset, and offers some tips for making the shift. I captured it in mysketchnotes below.
For me, one of the key insights from that article was the idea that being proactive isn't just about working harder or doing more. It's about taking ownership of my own success and growth, and being willing to step outside my comfort zone in pursuit of my goals.
From proactive to the ownership mindset
As I continued to develop my proactive mindset, I began to realize that there was an even higher level of ownership and initiative that I could aspire to. This is what I've come to think of as an ownership mindset.
My husband’s experience really brought this concept to life for me. He told me a story from the time when he had just been promoted to front desk manager at a hotel. His new responsibilities included overseeing the front desk staff, handling customer complaints, and managing small goods. When he first arrived at the front desk, he noticed that the entire area – from the counter and keyboard to the computer – was covered in a thick layer of dust. The only clean spots were the areas directly visible to customers, like the back of the computer. The back office was even worse, with company items and personal belongings piled up in a disorganized mess.
He felt that this situation was unacceptable. It was chaotic, and it was difficult to find things. To work efficiently, they needed a clean and organized environment. So, he approached the hotel management team and mentioned that he had some free time that weekend and offered to tidy up the area. Another front desk manager chimed in that they had actually cleaned up before, but since no one else maintained it, they stopped it.
My husband then thought, well, if someone had done it before, then there were people willing to take on this task. So, he rallied that manager to join forces with him, and together they cleaned up the front desk and back office. They tidied up the entire front desk area, ensuring even the small corners were spotless. In the back office, they discarded all unclaimed personal items and categorized the company's goods, labeling them for easy access.
The clean and tidy front desk and office were a pleasant surprise for the hotel management team. The question then became, how could they maintain this level of cleanliness and organization?
He suggested adding the cleaning tasks for the front desk and office to the handover checklist, making it a part of the routine handover inspection. By incorporating it into the established procedures, it became easier for everyone to hold each other accountable. This way, every day before the shift handover, the front desk staff would only need to spend a short amount of time performing a quick cleaning of these two areas to maintain the new standard.
His approach to tackling this problem exemplified the ownership mindset in three key ways:
He noticed a problem outside his explicit job responsibilities and took the initiative to address it. Instead of simply accepting the situation as it was, he identified an opportunity to create positive change and acted on it.
He didn't just clean up the front desk and back office himself; he got a colleague to help him, making the process more efficient and effective. By involving others in the solution, he fostered a sense of shared ownership and responsibility.
He implemented a system to ensure that the positive changes would be sustained over time, by adding the cleaning tasks to the front desk staff's daily checklist. This demonstrated a commitment to long-term success and continuous improvement.
Through his actions, my husband demonstrated that an ownership mindset is about more than just completing tasks or meeting expectations. It's about proactively seeking out opportunities to create value, collaborating with others to achieve shared goals, and implementing solutions that drive lasting, positive change.
His example really inspired me to think about how I could apply an ownership mindset in my own work. One practice that has helped me cultivate this mindset is to regularly ask myself, "If I were in my manager's shoes, how would I approach this situation? What would I do differently?" This mental exercise has helped me develop a broader perspective and a greater sense of responsibility for the outcomes of my work.
In his book "The Effective Executive," Peter Drucker argues that everyone should view themselves as a leader, not just an employee. At first, this idea seemed counterintuitive to me. After all, I was just a regular employee, not a manager or executive.
But as I reflected on my own experiences and observations, I started to see the value in this perspective shift. When I approached my work with an ownership mindset, I found that I was more engaged, more creative, and more impactful. I wasn't just focused on completing tasks or meeting deadlines, but on creating value and driving positive change.
Adopting an ownership mindset hasn't always been easy for me. It requires a willingness to step outside my defined role and responsibilities, and to think about the bigger picture of how my work fits into the larger goals and mission of my team and organization. It means being proactive not just in my own work, but in identifying opportunities to help others and contribute to the success of the group as a whole.
Continuing the journey
Shifting from a reactive to a proactive mindset, and then to an ownership mindset, has been a transformative journey for me. It hasn't always been easy, and there have been plenty of setbacks and challenges along the way. But I've found that the rewards – in terms of personal growth, job satisfaction, and impact – have been well worth the effort.