In 1982, Tom Peters’ book “In Search of Excellence” was published and sold 3 million copies in its first year.
Tom’s multi-year project to write the book was based on a different way of looking at successful companies, and can really be summarised by the concept of “people first.” This was in stark contrast to the management consulting industry’s “strategy first” approach that had ruled thus far.
Nevertheless, the first key attribute listed was also the most important:
This was a bias for action – or, ‘getting on with it’.
When we look at almost any sticky situation – a stagnation with your training, a difficulty with your team, a flat-line in sales, having a bias for action will prevail.
What can you do right now that can improve things in your domain?
I have hired staff based on a “bias for action” over almost anything else, and I have also had to let someone go once due to a “bias for inaction” that ultimately we were not able to work through.
When we bring in concepts such as feedback, an ability to learn/teach and a desire to make things better, a bias for action goes an incredibly long way.
