A Bias Toward Action

One of my favorite essays was written all the way back in 1899. It is titled “A Message to Garcia” and celebrates the value of individual initiative. You can read the story for yourself, but the essay contrasts the protagonist’s self-driven effort against "the imbecility of the average man – the inability or unwillingness to concentrate on a thing and do it."

If the author thought that the inability to concentrate was bad during the Spanish-American War, what would he think about work in the hyper-connected, highly distracted world we live in today? Arguably, the ability to get shit done is much more challenging now. That also means it is much more valuable. 

A good leader cultivates “a bias toward action” in themselves and in their organization. They recognize that an imperfect solution today is often better than a perfect solution tomorrow.

The ability to get things done is a rare skill that requires no special education or training. It is an attitude that values production over procrastination. If you learn the lesson from “A Message to Garcia” you too can become a linchpin in your organization.