Do you ever catch yourself wondering why we talk and complain more than we act? I definitely do!
Taking the first step is often the key to moving forward, both for personal development and organizational progress. But, why is it that we often struggle to initiate action?

I recently read Seth Godin's book, "Poke The Box" and it got me inspired for how to set things in motion effectively. The art of starting is key to innovation, so how can we make sure we actually do it?

Starting requires direction

At the beginning of Godin's book, he shares a compelling example that resonated with me. He writes

"Dr. Jan Souman, of the Max Planck Institute of Biological Cybernetics, studied what happens to us when we have no map, no compass, no way of determining landmarks. [...] It turns out we work in circles.”

This isn't just a metaphor; it's an actual study conducted on people who found themselves lost in the wilderness with no direction. When there's no direction, we circle. Aimlessly.

Sounds familiar? We do not have to get lost in the Sahara to experience it. Change the context and you’ll probably find endless discussions about optimization, decisions left unmade, and procrastination. These are symptoms of a more profound issue: a lack of clear direction.

To foster a proactive team, both as individuals and leaders, we must provide them with direction and clarity. Do you have a clear strategy that can guide decisions, and have you communicated your expectations to yourself and your team? If not, you can't expect effective action.

Don’t be afraid of failure

Scientific evidence shows that the more you initiate and accept failure, the quicker you'll innovate. Nevertheless, our fear of failure often holds us back.

This fear is partly influenced by how success is measured in companies and the constant focus on those who excel. It's also influenced by our "lizard brain," which thrives on fear and exaggerates the consequences of being wrong.

Overcoming the fear of failure is essential for fostering a culture of growth. But it's a complex challenge connected to risks on both an organizational and personal level. If we get burned, we will not try again, so we must slice the elephant into small parts and try to keep the failures as small as possible.

Fail fast, but fail small should be the mantra. But fail, otherwise, you’ll get stuck in the midst of an ever-changing world around you.

While you start and inevitably face failures, ensure that you incorporate your learnings into your routines. You can consider innovative practices like pre-mortems, failure Slack channels, and routine discussions about failure to destigmatize it.

Avoid the phrase "this might not work" and encourage people to pursue unconventional paths. Separating green thinking (possibilities) from red thinking (feasibility) can be a powerful tool for fostering innovation.

The secret ingredient to bringing ideas to action: get the buy-in

It is quite intuitive to understand that a sense of curiosity and proactivity are needed if you want to start, especially if you want to start something new. But Godin puts a finger on another important component: tact. Or buy-in, as I would call it.

Consider the story of Ignaz Semmelweis, a physician who discovered that poor hygiene, especially a lack of handwashing among doctors, led to a significant number of deaths. He identified the problem and shared his insights, but never gained traction. Why? Because he failed to explain the "why" behind the science and didn't put in the effort to gain adoption for his ideas.

This case illustrates a crucial point: having an idea and initiating discussion isn't enough; you need to find ways to make it work in your context.

Execution is about finding strategies to operate within your context's boundaries. If you expect buy-in to come without effort, your ideas will likely go nowhere. It's not just about having the idea, however brilliant or logical it might be; it's about making it happen. Having ideas is the easy part; bringing them to life is hard work.

The shortage isn't in ideas or recognizing problems; it's in taking action. By mastering the art of recognizing problems and becoming the solution, you can go far.

In conclusion, forward motion is an asset for personal and business growth. The power of starting is the key to transforming ideas into action. So, let's not just talk about it; let's take that crucial first step toward igniting action and achieving our goals.

And if need some more convincing, listen to President Obama talking about the importance of getting things done below. And then just go, go, go!

The power of starting: the art of taking actions to drive success