Bias For Action

Do you have a hard time?getting started on projects you don't know how to accomplish? You want to do it right, and you want to do it well, and because you don't know how to do either, yet, you do nothing. Then, the longer you put it off, the bigger the project seems to become. Attach to that dread and worry, and you have full blown procrastination. This procrastination then leads to?action paralysis...where now the task seems impossible.

Yet taking action?is the precursor to a perfected product or accomplishment. In David Bayles's and Ted Orland's book,?Art & Fear ,?they tell the story of a ceramics teacher announcing that the class would be split up into two groups. One group would be graded on the quantity of work they produced, and the other group on quality. At the end of the semester, the results were interesting. The highest quality product came from the group which was being graded for quantity, not quality! The authors note, "It seems that while the “quality” group had sat theorizing about perfection, and had very little to show for their work than "piles of clay",?the “quantity” group was busily churning out piles of work – and learning from their mistakes."

Does this surprise you?

When we worry too much about getting things perfect (to the point of inaction), we miss out on the opportunity to practice, and make necessary errors along the way. What's needed instead is a bias for action.

“A year from now you will wish you had started today.” – Unknown

Defining Bias for Action

What does it mean to have a bias for action?

Someone who is strong in this competency of emotional intelligence notices circumstances and looks for opportunities to initiate change, before being asked to change. If opportunity does not present itself, they create their own. When a "right set of circumstances"?does appear, they are prepared and ready to act on it. These people are proactive, persistent, and productive. They go above and beyond. They do not shy away from difficult situations and are not daunted by hurdles and failures. They know how to cut through the red tape. They are often creative, using novel ideas and methods to get things done. These are the people we call the shakers and movers. And not only are they self-motivated, they are able to mobilize others to get the ball rolling.

[Don't get this confused with impulsivity, which is a proclivity to act without thinking. Bias for action includes a lot of thinking -- it's just that thinking is done in advance, so when opportunities arise, a number of calculated risks have already been?considered.]

"To achieve greatness, start where you are, use what you have, and do what you can." – Arthur Ashe

When You're Lacking a Bias for Action

Research shows when there's a lack of action, productivity can suffer. In an article from FastCompany.com , the author notes, "The average company loses more than 25% of its productive power to organizational drag—processes that waste time and prevent people from getting things done."

At Best at Digital, e-learning providers, in an article How A Bias for Action Can Impact Growth , the author says, "The key benefit of action bias is the elimination of fear. The need to act helps us to make decisions without the fear of consequences or judgements. Worrying about the impact of actions can lead to procrastination and, ultimately, stagnation. This is counterproductive for both personal growth and organizational growth."

If a bias for action is not your strong point, you may feel behind on a number of important tasks/projects in your life. You may often feel a sense of dread for new projects which are put on the table. You may need a high-stress situation to spur you to action (pressure from someone else, a deadline, financial implications, etc.). You may be one who tends to wait for someone to tell you something needs done before doing it. You may tend to react to events rather than being proactive, and think you operate best in "crisis mode". When you make mistakes, your first tendency is to hide them, even from yourself (so you don't feel like a 'failure'.) You probably choose easier paths vs. ones which require hard work, and give up easily when something demands extensive effort. You may be overly cautious and unwilling to take risks.

"So many fail because they don’t get started." – W. Clement Stone

Hurdles to a Bias for Action (and how to move past them)

Building any new habit takes effort. Even if your middle name is Procrastination, your ability to develop a bias for action is possible. And, it is up to you.

"Don’t let what you?cannot?do interfere with what you?can?do." – John Wooden?

So let's take a look at some of the common hurdles to having a bias for action, and explore ways to move past them.? You may connect with some or all of these. Knowing which hurdles trip you up is a great first step toward growth. Which of these most often gets in your way?of taking action?

• Procrastination -?You've developed a habit of putting off important tasks and waiting until the last minute. What to do:?Break down the tasks into small, bite-sized chunks, and do one thing today. Then do another thing tomorrow. Every day, try to do something, no matter how small.
• A need to have it all figured out -?Wouldn't it be nice to always have all the answers up front when you need them? But that's not reality, and most do not have the ability to predict what the future holds. There will always be unknowns when taking action. What to do: Accept you won't know everything today. Each day, to find out another answer to a question you have about the project, if possible. Little by little, you'll broaden your scope of understanding, while you're getting started.
• Fear of failure?-?You may have a fixed mindset, one which sees mistakes and failures as permanent, rather than part of the process, and something you can learn from. You may chide yourself for making mistakes or beat yourself up for not being perfect.?What to do: Remind yourself that mistakes are part of life. For each misstep, write down what you learned and what you can do differently next time.
• Fear of success -?This may sound counterintuitive, but some people are afraid of succeeding--and the extra work, expectations, and time constraints which come with it.?What to do: Make a list of all the positive outcomes if you are successful with this project. Also think about who you can enlist to help out with the extra work this success might bring.
• Comfort with "the way things are" -?You are change-adverse, and the way you're currently doing things?feels safe and easy--even though you know it's probably not the best choice. What to do: Try something new today. It doesn't even have to be related to the project at first. You simply want to start getting comfortable with change. Eat a new restaurant, talk to someone new, drive to work on a different route. Note and attempt to appreciate the differences of your new choices. Keep track of what outcomes result from your new choices.
• Busy-ness -?You may feel?stressed with how much you have to do, and taking something new on may send you to overwhelm.?What to do: Often being too busy is a lack of boundaries around your values. Try doing a values check (prioritizing what is most important to you). Determine which things you're busy with do not fit into those values, and let those go for a bit while you reorganize your daily activities. Enlist the help of a friend or colleague if needed to take some things off your plate.
• A lack of resources -?Change takes resources -- time, shifted priorities, manpower, skills, buy-in, financial support, etc., to name a few. What to do: Make a list of what you need to be successful in this endeavor. Which of these are realistic (can be acquired right now) and which are not (can't be acquired right now). Whose help or buy-in do you need? Determine how the goal may need to shift to align with your available resources.
• Excessive worry?-?Worrying about the "what-ifs" can cause action paralysis and prevent you from taking risks.?What to do: Write down your worries, or talk to a friend, colleague or a social and emotional intelligence coach . Imagine what positive outcomes could come about as opposed to the negative. Sometimes just acknowledging worries removes their negative power. Ask questions and find out answers. Talk to those who are successful and learn how they tackle worries.
• Exhaustion?-?If you're tired,?mentally and/or physically, it's going to be tough to make changes and move forward with the energy needed for success. What to do:??Get back to the basics: Make good sleep, a healthy diet, and moderate exercise a part of your everyday activities. Talk to your health professional to figure out a plan best for you. Talking to counselor or mental health provider can help provide emotional health.?
• Lack of focus?-?This is closely connected to being too busy, but if you aren't able to concentrate on the task at hand, accomplishing it will be nearly impossible. What to do: Try scheduling blocks of time to focus only on the task at hand.?Don't allow emails/texts/notifications to interrupt you. Try this twice a day for starters.?

When you get started toward a goal, the traction can begin. You can't drive a parked car. In the words of Thomas Jefferson:? "Never put off until tomorrow what you can do today." So today, carve out some time to put it in gear and take a step forward, even if it is a small one. Then do it again tomorrow, then again the next day, and the next day, and the next.? Richard Evans once said, "The undertaking of a new action brings new strength." You may be surprised how your motivation is spurred by your bias for action.

"Yesterday is gone. Tomorrow has not yet come. We have only today. Let us begin." – Mother Teresa?