Donald Miller, the author of “Business Made Simple,” encourages a “bias for action” as a mindset and approach to decision-making in the business world. In essence, having a bias.
for action means prioritizing acting and making progress over waiting for the perfect plan or overthinking things. Here’s what it entails:
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1. Decisiveness: Instead of getting caught up in endless analysis and planning, a bias for action encourages you to make decisions quickly and confidently. It acknowledges that in business, you often don’t have perfect information, and waiting for it can lead to missed opportunities.
2. Willingness to Take Risks: Having a bias for action means being willing to take calculated risks. It acknowledges that not every action will guarantee success, but it’s better to take well-thought-out risks than to remain passive and avoid making decisions.
3. Iteration and Learning: It’s understood that not every action will yield the desired outcome. However, a bias for action promotes a culture of learning from both successes and failures. By acting and seeing what works and what doesn’t, you can iterate and improve your strategies over time.
4. Avoiding Procrastination: Procrastination can be a major obstacle to success. A bias for action encourages you to overcome inertia and start working on your goals and projects immediately, rather than postponing them indefinitely.
5. Focus on Execution: Instead of solely focusing on planning and strategizing, having a bias for action places a strong emphasis on execution. It recognizes that a well-executed imperfect plan is often more effective than a perfect plan that is never put into action.
In summary, having a bias for action is about embracing a proactive and forward-moving mindset in the business world. It’s about making decisions, taking risks, and continuously learning and adapting as you work toward your goals. By doing so, you can make progress, achieve your objectives, and ultimately succeed in your business endeavors.
*Please be mindful, a Bias for Action is different from Decision Making Bias. A bias for action is inherently about getting the right things done. Decision making bias is distinct in that leaders feel good when they make decisions, and this bias must be checked against whether the decisions made make sense within the context of the organization’s aspirations and goals and do not create conflict or confusion in the workplace.
Please follow this link to evaluate your bias, another leader’s or an organization’s Bias for Action.
