I find value in action versus deliberating on the optimal course of action. I’m the ‘Ready - Fire - Aim’ type. In most situations, in tech and in business in general but maybe not healthcare, once you are progressing on a path there are opportunities to reflect and course correct where the progress made has the benefit of forward momentum which gets you to a place where a clearer course can be seen. I feel most instances where people want to deliberate on the course of action are doing it more out of procrastination, or fear of choosing the wrong path, than really caring about the best course.
For my fourth lecture, I had the quote:
“Behaviors should advance strategic aspirations. They are important because it’s easier to act your way into a new way of thinking than to think your way into a new way of acting. In other words, it’s easier to lace up your shoes and go to the gym than to make yourself believe you love going to the gym.”
Maybe the opening paragraph and this quote are a bit different, but the message I was trying to impart to my students is one rooted in leadership. Taking initiative to act in situations will in most instances be better than thinking about it. Far too many situations I have seen people want to drive consensus for the best course, but then find themselves in a place where it is paralysis by analysis.
I want to acknowledge this might be an overly male point of view, and my observations are biased. There is also value in driving consensus to have more people bought in to the action needed. I also have to acknowledge that in a world of AI where a generative AI tool can provide you a suggested action, this drive to act might be dangerous. However, I go back to the idea of forward momentum has value. And sitting by the sidelines deliberating on a best course of action can be debilitating.
I provide this quote as a key skill of leadership is to take action, especially when there is a lack of all the information you may have hoped for. Students really need to be equipped with leadership skills along with teaming, communication and critical thinking, especially in a world dominated by AI. I do feel these students are getting a fair amount of soft skill development. The school claims students will on average do over 20 group projects before they graduate. The students I have spoken to feel like that is a low number. Most classes, including mine, will have multiple writing assignments. Between case competitions and various clubs, there are ample opportunities for communications skill development. They now created a class for critical thinking in the age of AI. I could probably use that one. The plausibility trap is certainly real for me.
