1st Edition

Powering Workplace Proactivity How to Build a Future-Focused, Change-Oriented Culture

By Joanne Gray Copyright 2025
216 Pages 10 B/W Illustrations
by Routledge

216 Pages 10 B/W Illustrations
by Routledge

216 Pages 10 B/W Illustrations
by Routledge

Empowering, customizable, and backed by organizational research, this book introduces the PROACTIVE work design model and diagnostic tool to help organizations create optimal conditions for proactivity at work to flourish. The pressures and expectations of 21 st -century life have led to short-term, reactive behavior in the workplace, however, long-term business success relies on proactive... Read more

Acknowledgments. Part One – Proactivity at Work. Introduction – The Inspiration for This Book. Chapter 1: What Is Proactivity at Work and Why Is It Important Chapter 2: Proactive Motivation. Chapter 3: How Does Your Organization Shape Up? Part Two – PROACTIVE Work Design Model. Chapter 4: Psychological Safety. Chapter 5: Role and Remit. Chapter 6: Organizational Fairness. Chapter 7: Autonomy. Chapter 8: Communication. Chapter 9: Time. Chapter 10: Influence. Chapter 11: Values and motivation. Chapter 12: Energy. Part Three – Diversity in Focus. Introduction – Through Different Lenses. Chapter 13: The Under-Recognized Voice. Chapter 14: Implications Of an Aging Workforce. Chapter 15: The Neurodivergent Lens.

Biography

Joanne Gray, Chief Progressivist at The Progress Lab, is a business psychologist and EMCC-accredited executive coach who embodies proactivity. With a focus on understanding and harnessing human motivation, she helps leaders and organizations unlock their full potential. She holds a Professional Doctorate in Occupational Psychology from Birkbeck, University of London, UK.

Proactivity is more than each one of us doing things. Proactivity is about communities at work making things happen. This book is a practical and evidence-based guide to proactivity at work in ever more agile and complex meso and macro environments. I recommend this book to all managers, leaders, coaches, and HR practitioners.
Professor Almuth McDowall, Birkbeck University of London

Powering Workplace Proactivity is one of the most important books on workplace motivation to be published in recent years. Dr Joanne Gray has developed a highly accessible, evidence-based framework that anyone can use to better understand others and be more proactive. Filled with useful insights and tools, this book is essential for anyone who manages people or who helps teams be more effective. 
Dr Hayley Lewis, Managing Director, HALO Psychology

A timely and comprehensive exploration of proactivity in the workplace with insightful, practical guidance. I welcomed the wide repertoire of relevant research evidence used to help us develop a better understanding of how individual, job, social, leadership, and organizational factors can enhance or inhibit proactivity. The mix of case studies, the PROACTIVE work design model, and other techniques make this book a useful toolkit for creating environments where proactive individuals can flourish.
Professor Kamal Birdi, Head of Institute of Work Psychology, Sheffield University