Soft Skill/Competency: Action Orientation

(Refer our High Quality Management Encyclopedia “Management Universe” at: http://management-universe.blogspot.com/)

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(Refer previous four posts to read the detailed explanations on competencies "Result Orientation", "Problem Solving", “Self Confidence” and “Self Development”.)

Explanation of the Competency “Action Orientation”

• Emphasizes that actions are more important than mere ideas.
• Looks around for what needs to be done.
• Does it without being told.
• Demonstrates initiative.
• Uses energy and drive.
• Has more bias for action than for thinking, planning and analysis.
• Does not spend too much time in thinking, planning and analysis. Is not an over-thinker or over-planner or does not get stricken by analysis paralysis.
• Acts with urgency to the situations that demand urgency.
• Is aware of the time lines for actions and therefore, sticks to deadlines by starting and finishing on time.
• Takes actions proactively to exploit the business opportunities.
• Encourages action orientation in others, particularly in his team members and motivates them accordingly.
• Makes allowances and concessions for slippages and errors in action oriented persons or action oriented situations.
• Identifies the strategic opportunities that are time sensitive, grabs them and acts on them without loss of time, realizing that the delay in actions can be quite catastrophic.
• In such strategic situations, creates urgency and acts as a propeller to set himself and others in motion with the required pace.
• Tries to build an action oriented culture in the organizations he is associated with.

Pitfall to be Avoided

• Possibility of turning into a workaholic impacting adversely on personal and family life.
• Possibility of suffering from stresses due to burn out.
• Lack of planning and more of impulsiveness to act may have adverse impact on smooth, quality, economic and timely actions.
• May end up setting highly ambitious though unrealistic goals and deadlines.
• May become intolerant of people with lacking action orientation of people with slow pace of working. This may jeopardize his interpersonal relationships with them.
• May be less flexible in changing the plans.

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