bias toward action (and what to do if you don't have it)

Recently, I was listening to a webinar, in which the guest speaker said something that really got to me. He was telling webinar participants to take a mini-action, and then he made an off-the-cuff remark that the individuals who were going to achieve the goals of the webinar probably had already done it—”it” being whatever the mini-action was. Further he remarked that the individuals who would achieve the goals of the webinar were also likely to have a “bias towards action.”

And the reason his comments affected me the way they did is because I knew instinctively that I was not one of those people with a natural bias towards action. If I’m totally honest, I’m someone who likes to give things extra thought and analysis and who likes to ensure a high percentage of success before I start “doing”. I also know that I’m not one of these people, because I’ve known others who definitely have this quality.

In fact, my former boss was 1000% someone with a bias towards action. At one point she even had a note scribbled on the whiteboard in her office that said, “Say yes and then figure it out later.”

And I’ll admit, that sentiment scares me to my roots. It is the kind of thinking that makes me very uncomfortable and yet a quality that I admired in my supervisor.

And because of this natural bias towards action she had the capacity to get things done that others (including myself) might have considered impossible. But in the process she made other uncomfortable, forcing them into this state of uncertainty because truthfully sometimes the results weren’t perfect. And she was okay with that.

So, what do you do if don’t have a natural bias towards action but still want to be a doer?

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How to Do (When You’re Feeling Unsure)

Here are four of my tried and true tips on how to move the ball forward when you aren’t certain of the result:

1 - Put something on the page (screen). Personally, nothing terrifies me more than a blank page staring back at me. To get over this hump (as quickly as possible!), I like to take anything and everything I already have on the subject and dump it into a working document.

Notes from the meeting that led to this opportunity. Put them in there.

A handwritten outline that lays out the key elements. Great, put it in.

Language from a pre-existing work plan. Awesome.

And then slowly but surely, I realize I actually have more than I realized. And little by little, I start to organize the material to get a sense of what's missing. Even the questions and knowing what I don't know is incredibly helpful to move forward in the process.

2 - If you aren’t clear on the answers, get clear on the questions. This is an opportunity to hone in on the WHY. What was it that originally inspired the idea for the project/program in the first place?

As you begin to remind yourself of your primary goals, you can develop an outline (or use a template) to identify the key areas of information you need to include.

Fill out the sections that you know.

Identify the parts that need clarifying.

And remember, it's always better to be short and concise than long for the sake of proving you have something to say. In my experience, most prospective donors will thank you for it.

3 - Don’t be a hero. Ask for input from someone who is less tied to the end result. When you are the person responsible for a project’s success, you are extra weighed down by the fear of failure.

Brene Brown, who is a very successful writer but an admittedly reluctant one, has talked about her process of talking through her big ideas with a close group of advisors and thought partners, and then running to the next room to write it all down. By tricking herself into talking it out (without fear) she is able to get clear on what she wants to say and write. And by not going at it alone, she has the support and input of people she trusts.

4 - Take mini-action. Force a deadline. Recruit someone you know to be your accountability partner -- and give them permission to really follow through.

I am a huge advocate for being held accountable. Personally, I am someone who is very good at meeting external deadlines but when it comes to internal deadlines (to meet goals that really only matter to me) I struggle a lot. But when I known that someone else is going to hold my feet to the fire, I am much more likely to meet my deadline or goal, even if it's self-imposed.

My Challenge for You

This month, I challenge you to take action toward achieving a goal that has eluded you for longer than you would like. This can be a professional goal or it can be something personal. Get clear on what it is that you’d like to achieve and then think about a mini-action that forces you into the process.

For me, it’s writing and publishing articles on this blog and delivering by my intended deadline. What will you do to move forward in your effort?

Good luck!