Power Tool: Active vs. Passive

A Coaching Power Tool Created by Manish Soni
(Executive Coach, INDIA)

Allan saw his watch clicking 6, the guests started to arrive for the launch event of the new product, Blue. He and his team has been working for months on this innovation. Hilton was beautifully lit in azure blue reflecting the theme for the evening. As guests walked on the turquoise blue carpet, Allan made mental notes of arriving guests. Allan was assigned to engage and interact with Key customers to ensure a smooth takeoff of BLUE. The early birds were VIP customers from Matt’s area.

David organized exotic blue cheese & blue wine for the evening. The wine specially ordered from Spain has been delayed due to ongoing cargo strike. His worried look could not escape Allan. There were no signs of the delivery.

The customers were too important to left alone. Allan got to know of the situation, he knew he could help. If not Blue, Red wine could have been organized locally. What was the need to take such a risk knowing of the strikes? He brushed aside his preliminary thoughts and began to wonder what could be done.

Allan excused himself from the customers and handed over to Matt for a while. He took stock of the situation. Being a wine connoisseur, he knew the suppliers. He dialed a few contacts and connected David to one of his supplier, the Blue wine was organized locally just in time.

Active vs. Passive

This power tool focuses on accountability. In every situation we may find that we have an option to be a passive spectator or an active player. When we feel collective responsibility and individual accountability, our response to a situation is different. At this point we find shift from being “Passive” to being “Active”

The driving force for this shift is taking accountability, we become our best selves when we are on the field and not giving power and control to situations but taking control over them.

Allan’s responsibility ended with customer engagements, his preliminary thoughts were that of an onlooker, the shift made him see his accountability towards success of the event. He actively contributed towards solution of the problem.

Active as defined by the dictionary

Engaged in action; characterized by energetic work, participation, doing something practical rather than allowing a situation to develop by itself.

Passive as defined by the dictionary

Not reacting to what happens, or not acting or taking part, not acting to influence or change a situation, but allowing others to be in control.

What happens when we are “Passive”

We are in a disempowered state, mentally confined to watching the game like an onlooker, limited to cheering or booing the active players. The accountability for the outcome is passed to players on the field. What happens on the field seems beyond your control.

What happens when we are “Active”

We are in an empowered state, continuously looking for opportunities to play our part. We feel accountable not only for our position on the field, but also for the team. The aim is not to lose the ball to the opponent, or in to situations beyond our control.