You’ve been there.
Everyone’s in the meeting room (or on Zoom), the goal is clear, the enthusiasm is flowing, and then… nothing happens. The ideas sit in a shared document, the action points float in limbo, and three weeks later someone says, “Did we ever do that thing?”
This is where leadership often falls down—not at the vision stage, not at the motivation stage, but at the turning-talk-into-action stage.
That’s exactly what the Action Initiation Conversation is for.
It’s the moment you move from, “We should…” to “Here’s what I’m doing, by when, and how it helps the bigger picture.”
It’s not about barking orders or building a giant spreadsheet of chores—it’s about creating commitment and clarity so the path forward is obvious and shared.
Activity vs Action: Spot the Difference
One of the biggest traps teams fall into is confusing activity with action.
Activity is when you look busy—endless emails, countless meetings, lots of “updates” that don’t really move anything forward.
Action is different.
Action is outcome-focused.
It’s tied to the vision. It creates something, unlocks a resource, or finishes a mini-goal that matters.
Here’s a test: if you can’t clearly connect what you’re doing to moving the project toward its vision, you might be stuck in activity. And no amount of activity will get you across the finish line.
What the Conversation Looks Like
The Action Initiation Conversation is simple in concept but powerful in practice.
At its core, it’s about answering four questions:
- What’s the shared goal?
- What needs to happen next?
- Who’s committing to what?
- When will it be done?
Notice what’s missing? “Who’s available?” or “Who’s the least busy?”
This isn’t about dumping work—it’s about matching the right commitment to the right person so they can take ownership.
Why Commitment Matters More Than Assignment
If you’ve ever been given a task you didn’t want, didn’t understand, or didn’t believe in, you’ll know the difference between compliance and commitment.
Compliance is, “Fine, I’ll do it because you told me to.”
Commitment is, “I’m taking this on because I see why it matters, and I want to make it happen.”
The Action Initiation Conversation turns assignments into commitments. You don’t leave the room until everyone knows:
- What they’ve committed to
- Why it matters
How it connects to the bigger vision
An Example from the Field
I once worked with a small team at a non-profit. They had endless energy and huge hearts, but every project dragged on for months.
Why?
Because they spent more time updating each other than actually moving things forward.
We ran one Action Initiation Conversation. By the end of the hour:
- Each person had two clear commitments
- They knew exactly how those actions tied to their goal of securing funding for a new youth programme
- Everyone left with deadlines they’d set for themselves—not ones imposed from above
Three weeks later, they’d achieved more than in the previous three months. The difference? Clarity and ownership.
How to Run Your Own Action Initiation Conversation
You can run this in ten minutes or an hour, depending on the size of the team. Here’s the flow:
- Start with the goal
Restate the vision or desired outcome in plain language. Everyone should be able to say it without reading from a slide. - List the next moves
Ask: “What are the next steps that would move us closer to this goal?” Don’t edit yet—get everything on the table. - Match actions to people
Invite people to commit, not just be assigned. If no one wants a task, talk about why—it might not actually matter as much as you thought. - Clarify expectations
Agree on what “done” looks like. If you’re vague, you’ll get vague results. - Set timelines
Deadlines aren’t about pressure—they’re about momentum. Make them realistic but tight enough to keep things moving.
Write it down and share it
A conversation is only useful if the commitments are visible.
The Personal Spin: Using It on Yourself
You don’t need a team to run an Action Initiation Conversation. You can use it for your own projects—especially if you’re prone to procrastination.
Ask yourself:
- What’s my actual goal here?
- What’s the next meaningful step I can take?
- When will I do it?
- How will I know it’s done?
The trick is to be specific. “Work on my book” isn’t action. “Write 500 words on Chapter 3 before Friday” is action.
Why This Works
When you combine clarity and commitment, two things happen:
- You remove the fuzziness that slows progress
- You give people (including yourself) a reason to care
Without that, projects stall, energy fades, and you end up in update meetings about why nothing’s moved forward.
With it, things start happening—and they keep happening.
From Meetings to Momentum
If you take nothing else away from this, remember: ideas are cheap, momentum is priceless. The Action Initiation Conversation is the bridge between the two.
It turns “we should” into “I will,” and that’s where progress begins.
Want Help Turning Talk Into Action?
If you’ve ever found yourself stuck in the gap between knowing and doing, you’re not alone. That gap is exactly what my book Stop Putting It Off! – How to Work When You’d Rather Watch Cat Videos was built to close.
It’s not another lecture about discipline. It’s a playful, practical guide to:
- Starting when you don’t feel like it
- Sticking with things when they get boring
- Actually finishing what you start
And here’s the fun part—you can get it free when you subscribe to The Joyful Achiever newsletter.
You’ll get:
- A weekly dose of practical, no-fluff tips
- Tools you can use right away
- A laugh or two (because work doesn’t have to be dull)
If you’re ready to stop circling your goals and start moving towards them, grab your copy today and let’s get going.