Write every Action Step starting with a verb
An Action Step that begins with a verb is completable; one that doesn’t is usually a wish or a category, not a task.
Key takeaways
- What it is: An Action Step that begins with a verb is completable; one that doesn’t is usually a wish or a category, not a task.
- Why it works: Language structure shapes action readiness. A task phrased as "Website redesign" requires parsing to determine what needs to happen; "Draft website redesign brief by Friday" is immediately actionable. Verb-led phrasing forces specificity: you cannot write "Send" without also identifying to whom and what. This specificity is functionally equivalent to an implementation intention — the research basis for why when-what-who task specification improves follow-through.
- Evidence: Plausible mechanism, limited direct outcome data.
- Avoid: Stacking multiple actions into one verb phrase ("Email John and review the proposal and schedule a call") — each is a separate Action Step and should be written as one.
Why it works
Language structure shapes action readiness. A task phrased as "Website redesign" requires parsing to determine what needs to happen; "Draft website redesign brief by Friday" is immediately actionable. Verb-led phrasing forces specificity: you cannot write "Send" without also identifying to whom and what. This specificity is functionally equivalent to an implementation intention — the research basis for why when-what-who task specification improves follow-through.
How to do it
- 1Before writing any Action Step, begin with an active verb: Send, Draft, Schedule, Decide, Review, Ask, Call.
- 2After the verb, identify the object (what) and, where relevant, the recipient (who) and deadline (when).
- 3If you cannot start with a specific verb, the item is probably a project or a theme — it needs to be broken down further.
What the evidence says
MechanisticImplementation intention research (Gollwitzer & Sheeran 2006) demonstrates that specific when-what planning improves follow-through by a medium-to-large effect. Verb-led phrasing is the Action Method’s operationalization of that specificity.
Honest caveat: Implementation-intention research is about when-and-where specificity; verb-led phrasing is the Action Method’s proxy for that specificity. The exact mapping has not been independently tested.
- — Gollwitzer & Sheeran (2006), implementation intentions and goal achievement, Advances in Experimental Social Psychology
Common mistake
Stacking multiple actions into one verb phrase ("Email John and review the proposal and schedule a call") — each is a separate Action Step and should be written as one.
IX Coach generates commitments in verb-led format from your session discussions, so the output of every conversation is a concrete, immediately actionable next step rather than an intention.
Practice this with IX Coach →