Action-taking is defined as ‘the process of doing.’ Management is the art of getting things done, and therefore fast action-taking is very important. Unfortunately, research shows that only about ten percent of managers actually take purposeful and swift action.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GWPgElAyMDY&feature=plcp[/youtube]

That is because many managers confuse being active with taking action. Being active means being busy, undertaking all kinds of activities with high energy and high commitment but without a strong focus on the desired or needed outcomes. In the end these managers are not very effective and actually get frustrated with their low added value. By contrast purposeful action is the conscious, intentional and goal-directed behavior that comes from a manager’s personal involvement and willingness to go beyond getting things done and to achieve something meaningful.