Breaking Free from the Action Fallacy

by Rochelle Melander

On our return trip from New Orleans, we spent five hours in Chicago. Not in the city. Not in the airport. On a plane.

After the initial flight plan was canceled, we had to return to the gate for fuel. A passenger demanded to get off the plane, convinced she’d get a seat on another flight leaving in 45 minutes. The flight attendant reasoned with her: They’re already boarding. You won’t make it in time. This flight will arrive in Milwaukee long before that one. The woman didn’t mind that her choice would delay the rest of us by 45 minutes. We want what we want, and this woman wanted some control over her day.

She and several others got off. We later learned from the flight attendant (the benefit of sitting in the back row of the plane) that as soon as the woman exited, the other flight closed the gate. When the woman asked to get back on our plane, she was denied.

I keep thinking about the woman’s insistence on getting off the plane, even though it didn’t get her home faster. It reminded me of how I often do things because it feels good to take control and act, even though it doesn’t really move me forward. Like exiting a slow-moving highway, even though taking side streets will take twice as long. Or cleaning my office and organizing my resources instead of writing.

What we witnessed is called the action fallacy or the action bias—the idea that taking action, any action, is the most productive choice. Sometimes the most productive choice is doing nothing. (So hard!) While at other times, the best step forward might not be the obvious or the flashy one.

I see the action fallacy all the time in my coaching practice. A client feels stuck, impatient, or doubtful—so we take quick action, hoping it will help.

A writer hears that other writers have been more productive on Scrivener, so they purchase the program, spending weeks learning the system and importing their documents.

An anxious writer impatient to get their project moving forward, signs up for an expensive program, hoping this one will help them finish their book.

I get it. It’s frustrating to work in an industry when so much is out of your control. Taking action feels good, even when it’s not productive.

What’s the solution?

Get clear about your goals.

Do you want to write something new, polish an existing piece, or build your skills? When you know your main goal, you’ll be better able to make good choices.

Pause.

Take time each week or even each morning to jot down the actions you could take. If you have ADHD or feel especially distracted, externalizing your options will make it easier for you to see and review them. Then consider what action will benefit you the most.

Choose.

Select one to three daily priorities.

Get help.

If you find yourself being busy but not productive week after week, talk to a friend or connect with a coach.