Employers give priority to technical knowledge while hiring, but they are also placing emphasis on candidates’ ability to take quick actions in adverse times. This ability to take action forms the basis of a concept called action bias or bias for action.

For freshers entering the work landscape, cultivating this ability can be an absolute game changer as it can help them easily prepare for greater roles and responsibilities, ultimately assisting in building a successful career path.

Action bias: What and Why

Action bias is about being a go-getter, someone who seizes opportunities and gets things done, even when faced with incomplete information or unexpected challenges, says Sonica Aron, Founder of Marching Sheep. Companies value this quality in their people as it fosters innovation, resilience and business continuity, she explains.

Lokesh Nigam, Co-founder and CEO of Konverz.ai, defines action bias as a cognitive tendency in which people favor action over inaction. This behaviour is frequency caused by the need to adapt to social and situational pressures, feel in control, or reduce ambiguity.


Dynamic work environment, prompt resolution and effective leadership are some of the factors that necessitate individuals to adopt action bias, according to him. Hence, employers are always looking for individuals who can make decisions quickly.

Action bias versus impulsivity: How to strike the right balance
People often confuse action bias with impulsivity.Aron says that action bias demands informed initiative and calculated risk. In other words, it requires gathering essential information before taking action but not getting paralysed in the absence of complete information. This could involve researching a topic or concept, clarifying expectations with seniors or brainstorming potential solutions. It is about acting on well-considered ideas, and not just reacting to a situation, she explains.Action bias and impulsivity are not the same, says Nigam. Action bias frequently shows itself in situations involving decision-making when people feel pressured to act in order to look proactive. Impulsivity, on the other hand, he says, is characterised by actions taken without sufficient thought or consideration of consequences, often driven by immediate desires or emotions.

Action bias leads to professional development
Both experts say that an action-bias mindset can fuel professional growth and ensure long-term career success, and this behaviour can be inculcated in certain ways.

To begin with, stepping out of comfort zones to take action allows individuals to learn from their successes and failures. It also significantly enhances problem-solving abilities.

Experts suggest embracing an action-oriented mindset as it boosts confidence. Individuals become more confident to take on new challenges and responsibilities when they realise the benefits of having a proactive mindset. Continuously taking initiatives and delivering results can make it easier to get recognition and help in landing better projects and greater responsibility at work, ultimately leading to career advancement.

At the same time, action bias plays a crucial role in the development of leadership skills, preparing individuals to take on greater responsibilities early in their career journey, add experts.

Challenges associated with action bias
To master an action-bias mindset, early career professionals must be aware of the hurdles they have to overcome. The most common challenge, experts say, is fear of failure. The thought that they can make an incorrect choice often prevents individuals from proactively offering solutions to problems at work.

To deal with this obstacle, they advise individuals to take smaller and calculated risks at first. This will help in increasing their comfort level with uncertain situations. Experts emphasise that one should use failures to learn and move ahead, instead of viewing these as setbacks.

Sometimes, the massive amount of information about a problem can lead to “analysis paralysis”, which slows down the whole plan of action. In such situations, the key is to not over-analyse; instead, trust you judgement, say experts.

The eagerness to take action without properly setting priorities and juggling multiple responsibilities can lead to burnout. Hence, one must ensure work-life balance while trying to adopt an action-bias mindset by simply prioritising tasks based on importance, relevance and urgency, experts add.

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