Bias for Action

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Descriptions to Discuss

Under Skilled

• Struggles to make decisions, leading to delays and inaction

• Often requires extensive information and data before committing to action

• Lacks confidence to drive initiatives forward, causing stagnation

• Avoids risks, hindering innovation and progress

• Often needs external motivation to take action

• Struggles to prioritize tasks, leading to inefficiency and missed opportunities

• Rarely steps out of their comfort zone, hindering growth and learning

• Prefers to maintain the status quo, showing a reluctance to change.

• Tends to procrastinate, delaying important tasks and decisions.

• May not take responsibility, expecting others to take the lead.

Highly Skilled

• Makes timely decisions, understanding that swift action is often crucial in business environments

• Comfortable making decisions with incomplete information, relying on their experience and judgement

• Has the confidence and determination to drive initiatives and get things done

• Understands that calculated risks are necessary for progress and innovation

• Self-motivated and takes initiative without needing constant external push

• Prioritizes tasks effectively, focusing on those with high impact and urgency

• Pushes themselves and their team out of the comfort zone to learn and grow

• Adaptable and open to change, continually looking for ways to improve.

• Prioritizes tasks effectively and acts promptly to execute them.

• Steps up and leads by example, taking responsibility for actions.

Over Skilled

• Makes impulsive decisions without enough thought or analysis, leading to poor outcomes

• Does not wait for any data, often jumping into action without any analysis

• Acts with overconfidence, often overlooking the need for team involvement and collaboration

• Takes excessive risks without proper assessment, jeopardizing the team and organization

• Overly driven by their own motivations, neglecting the perspectives and inputs of others

• Fails to prioritize effectively, trying to do everything at once, causing burnout and inefficiency

• Constantly pushing boundaries without considering the potential strain on themselves and their team

• Impulsive and always looking for change, often disrupting stable processes that work well.

• May execute tasks hastily, compromising the quality of outcomes.

• May undermine the team by not allowing others the chance to take responsibility.

Resources to Review

1. Coaching Worksheet on Bias for Action (Westbrook Resource)

2. Book: “Thinking, Fast and Slow” by Daniel Kahneman

3. Article: “How to Make Great Decisions Quickly” on Harvard Business Review

4. Video: “Inside the mind of a master procrastinator” TED Talk by Tim Urban

5. Book: “The 5 Second Rule: Transform Your Life, Work, and Confidence with Everyday Courage” by Mel Robbins

6. Article: “What Causes Overthinking and How to Stop” on Forbes

7. Video: “How to Make Hard Choices” TED Talk by Ruth Chang

8. Article: “Deciding How to Decide” on Harvard Business Review

9. Book: “Getting Things Done: The Art of Stress-Free Productivity” by David Allen

10. Article: “How to Stop Overthinking Everything” on Harvard Business Review

11. Article: “Speed as a Habit” from First Round Review

12. Book: “The Pursuit of Perfect” by Tal Ben-Shahar. It discusses perfectionism vs. optimalism and viewing ideals as northern stars rather than distant shores.

13. Book: “The Now Habit” by Neil Fiore. It discusses the underlying psychological issues and behavior patterns behind procrastination and how to beat them.