Indira Gandhi once said, "Have a bias toward action - let's see something happen now. You can break that big plan into small steps and take the first step right away." In my work experience, I've noticed that a major differentiator between average and high-performing managers is their bias toward taking action. High performers are impatient, eager to get started, possess a can-do attitude, and have a 'good as done' vision of success.
This value is evident in many leaders across various companies and industries. However, it appears naturally in leaders from Unilever. This is primarily because the fast-paced industry they operate in requires a sense of urgency and the ability to make tough decisions. Another reason is that Unilever assesses candidates against core values, one of them being 'Bias for Action'. This value is deeply ingrained in the company culture.
Richard Branson, in his book "Screw it, Let's do it", states that the words "cannot" or "can't" should not deter you from pursuing what you truly desire in life. He believes that the impossible is usually just what hasn't been tried yet. Branson suggests grabbing every opportunity, even when unsure about how to go about it, and learning along the way.
Many people hesitate to take the first step or seize an opportunity because they fear failure, anticipate the worst, and dread the unknown. In doing so, we often miss out on bigger opportunities.
Nelson Mandela asserted that "Vision without action is just a dream, action without vision just passes the time, and vision with action can change the world." Having a plan or idea of what needs to be done is crucial, but just dreaming without taking action won't get us anywhere.
David Maister, in his book "Strategy and the Fat Smoker", says that we all know what we should do in our personal and professional lives - lose weight, stop smoking, exercise more. Similarly, in business, strategic plans are loaded with goals like building client relationships, acting like a team player, and providing fulfilling, motivating careers. We understand the benefits, know what to do, why we should do it, and how to do it - yet, we often don't follow through.
Maister suggests that the primary reason we don't work on behaviors that need improvement is that the rewards and pleasure are in the future, while the disruption, discomfort, and discipline needed are immediate.
Think about your professional career - have you ever spotted an opportunity to do something valuable for your company but didn't pursue it due to various reasons? Or did you give up when you encountered the first major roadblock?
The key difference between managers at admired companies like Apple, Coca Cola, and PepsiCo and the less successful ones is that despite possessing the knowledge and resources, many managers do not take risks and do things that could shape the company's future.
In our Singapore office, we've named our training rooms after three attributes: Vision, Passion, and Action. This serves as a reminder that all three attributes need to work together in harmony to bring our dreams to life.
I would like to conclude with the words of Steve Jobs, a leader with a strong bias towards action who revolutionized the world of technology - "If I try my best and fail, well, I've tried my best".
Now, I would like to hear about a time when you took action that changed your life.
From India, Delhi
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15This value is evident in many leaders across various companies and industries. However, it appears naturally in leaders from Unilever. This is primarily because the fast-paced industry they operate in requires a sense of urgency and the ability to make tough decisions. Another reason is that Unilever assesses candidates against core values, one of them being 'Bias for Action'. This value is deeply ingrained in the company culture.
Richard Branson, in his book "Screw it, Let's do it", states that the words "cannot" or "can't" should not deter you from pursuing what you truly desire in life. He believes that the impossible is usually just what hasn't been tried yet. Branson suggests grabbing every opportunity, even when unsure about how to go about it, and learning along the way.
Many people hesitate to take the first step or seize an opportunity because they fear failure, anticipate the worst, and dread the unknown. In doing so, we often miss out on bigger opportunities.
Nelson Mandela asserted that "Vision without action is just a dream, action without vision just passes the time, and vision with action can change the world." Having a plan or idea of what needs to be done is crucial, but just dreaming without taking action won't get us anywhere.
David Maister, in his book "Strategy and the Fat Smoker", says that we all know what we should do in our personal and professional lives - lose weight, stop smoking, exercise more. Similarly, in business, strategic plans are loaded with goals like building client relationships, acting like a team player, and providing fulfilling, motivating careers. We understand the benefits, know what to do, why we should do it, and how to do it - yet, we often don't follow through.
Maister suggests that the primary reason we don't work on behaviors that need improvement is that the rewards and pleasure are in the future, while the disruption, discomfort, and discipline needed are immediate.
Think about your professional career - have you ever spotted an opportunity to do something valuable for your company but didn't pursue it due to various reasons? Or did you give up when you encountered the first major roadblock?
The key difference between managers at admired companies like Apple, Coca Cola, and PepsiCo and the less successful ones is that despite possessing the knowledge and resources, many managers do not take risks and do things that could shape the company's future.
In our Singapore office, we've named our training rooms after three attributes: Vision, Passion, and Action. This serves as a reminder that all three attributes need to work together in harmony to bring our dreams to life.
I would like to conclude with the words of Steve Jobs, a leader with a strong bias towards action who revolutionized the world of technology - "If I try my best and fail, well, I've tried my best".
Now, I would like to hear about a time when you took action that changed your life.
From India, Delhi
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