3. Action

The final factor in the multiplication formula is Action. Critical to our success is to take all our assets from the past (Preparation), our goals for the future (Vision) and close the gap between the two (Action) in the now.

The summation in the formula underlines to the repetitive factor required for success. As our past and future are constantly changing relative to the now, it is clear that we are in constant flux. Success therefore is a perpetually moving target and it is the people that constantly achieve their goals that are considered successful, not the one-hit wonders. In the words of Aristotle (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aristotle) “We are what we repeatedly do, excellence therefore is not an act but a habit.”

The factor Action is probably the element that is most naturally to me. I have been called more than once the “action-man”, the guy that could fix every problem, could resolve every situation in the now.

However, although Action is very important, I have learned from experience that to manage through Action alone is not enough. Over the years I have realized that short-term action is very applicable in crisis situations but to be successful you need Preparation and Vision.

Action without Vision is but random uncoordinated movement. Imagine a soccer game without a goal, a basketball game without a basket, a marathon without a finish. There would be a lot of action, but never success. So it is important to determine where you are running towards before you start. Especially within larger companies it is very difficult to achieve aligned action as it is very difficult to achieve an aligned view of the vision. Within your personal life and as a small entrepreneur it is within your reach to set clear goals and work in a coordinated way towards them. Within larger organizations it is essential to have a well communicated, commonly understood and mutually supported Vision in order to maximize the result of the combined action of empowered employees. However be careful not to empower the wrong things. Stay in control of the goal setting and release your control of the road and means to reach them.

Similarly Action without Preparation is bound to fail. Imagine the same soccer game but played by the basketball phenomenon Shaquille O’Neal (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shaquille_O%27Neal) and Kobe Briant (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kobe_Bryant) or the marathon ran by Usain Bolt (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Usain_Bolt), Jamaica’s 100m sprint wonder. All in itself the best sportsmen in their field of expertise, but with the wrong or lacking preparation needed for the task at hand, the probability of success is significantly reduced. Therefore make sure that whatever goals you set for yourself they are in line with your Preparation and if you don’t have the required Preparation surround you with people that do. This is specifically important for managers and entrepreneurs. However be vigilant to remain wise about your core. You can use the expertise of your employees, but you should always remain wise about your business: “We can be knowledgeable with other men’s knowledge, but we cannot be wise with other men’s wisdom.”, Montaigne (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Montaigne).

It is also important to note an important lesson: “No Action can be undone”. I learned this lesson personally during the Leicester Conference at the Tavistock Institute in 2003. During the opening plenary session there was a spiraled chair setting. After entering and a 2 minute opening by the Chairman Many Sher (http://www.tavinstitute.org/people/consultants/msher.php) , the group was left in silence. After almost 60 minutes of silence 1 person commented that the chair next to her was empty and that she felt as if the spiral was interrupted, broken, and therefore the group was divided. After 15 minutes of psychological interventions I decided  to take the empty chair and put outside of the spiral. By putting the other chairs closer together, the empty seat was gone and the spiral was “unified”. Regretfully, this resulted in yet another problem because now other people thought we had illuminated the missing’s persons place in the group and again 30 minutes of psychological discussions. Ultimately, so overwhelmed by the uproar of comments, I decided to put the seat back in the spiral. You can guess, this didn’t solve the problem. As I couldn’t undo my action, the impact of my intervention was felt throughout the entire 2-week conference. Only in very few occasions in my life had a lesson been so impactful!