Action Before Ability
Take action before you’re competent.
You act without ability when you learn to hit a baseball, for example.
The less you try, the less you’re able to do. When effort drops, tolerance for effort fades.
The more you do, the more you can do.
You learn to lead by leading.
How to Take Action Before Ability
#1. Find a Reason
Why bother increasing abilities?
- Will your future self thank you for developing this skill?
- How will developing this muscle enhance your ability to contribute?
#2. Who You Gonna Call?
Courage is a team sport. When uncertainty hits, who will you call? Contact supporters before you need them. Ask them if they will be a go-to person for you.
#3. Record Your Inner Critic.
Record every fear your inner critic complains about. Write it down. After a few days, review the list and throw it away. Don’t try to fix your inner critic. Acknowledge and discard.
Read: 7 Ruthless Truths About Your Inner Critic and the Realities of Self-Compassion
#4. What’s the Smallest Clumsy Step?
Small action before ability reduces anxiety.
Do something ridiculously small. Small steps increase confidence. Momentum is a series of small wins.
#5. Cheer Yourself On.
Say, “you got this,” to yourself.
“In the research literature, both instructional and motivational self-talk have been shown to enhance performance. Oxford
Bonus: Don’t visualize success. Visualize the process.
A Note on Self-Care
Self-care is part of life, not all of life. Resistance expands capacity. Rest restores it.
You grow when you rest and reflect. (Read The Vagrant for structured self-reflection practices.)
Energy, confidence, skill, focus, and courage expand when exercised.
Aim at motion, not motivation. Do something small consistently. Ability builds itself.
How can leaders encourage people to take action before ability?
I think you have a typo. Take action before your competent.
I think you mean…Take action before you are competent. If that’s the case, the word should be you’re: Take action before you’re competent.
Thanks so much!
Take action but also take time to reflect while you are doing the activity. Gain insights about what working and made small adjustments when necessary.
Action + reflection develops your ability. Feedback from good coaches and experts can shorten the learning cycle.
Leaders can delegate tasks that require the person to try out some new behaviors. (take action)
So true. It doesn’t help to repeat what isn’t working.
Dan enjoyed the baseball analogy. When my 6 to 9 year old son was in T Ball, I was the third base coach and learned a lot about leading. With kids that age first you need them to know who you are by talking to them at practice. Then you need them to actually listen to you in the game and run or stop as instructed. This you did by shouting their name and waving your arms to indicate stop or go. Then, most importantly, if one actually did what you told them, you made an effort to congratulate them later. I am not sure T Ball is much different than my time in business! Brad
Leaders are t-ball coaches. Now that has potential.
“When effort drops, tolerance for effort fades.” Mic drop! I needed this message in October. BTW, that typo? No big deal. We got your message.
It happens. When it does, I fix it. thanks.
Hi Dan, “Courage is a team sport” . It’s so punchy and such a different way to think about facing uncertainty
Being alone makes courage more challenging. Of course if the people around us lack courage, that’s hard too. But when the people around us are facing their fears and encouraging to others, courage becomes a team sport.