Taking Control of Your Life: The Power of High Agency

“The best way to predict the future is to create it.” — Peter Drucker

Until last week, I had no idea what a high agency mindset is or means. I was listening to an episode of My First Million with Sam Paar and Shaan Puri. They had George Mack as the guest, and he talked about high agency.

High Agency! High bias for action! It finally clicked for me!!!

My investment company is called Future Ventures, and the quote on the home page is “The best way to predict the future is to create it” by Abraham Lincoln. For the longest time, I had the following quote from Tony Gaskins as my profile picture on my Facebook profile.

I have always believed that if a problem seems too hard, the first step is too big. Break down the challenge into smaller, manageable steps to make progress without feeling overwhelmed. It is not surprising that I specialize in strategy risk management and transformation, domains that lend themselves well to the concept of high agency and effective problem-solving. One effective way to understand high agency is through a mental model called 'Barrels vs Ammunition,' which illustrates how different thinkers conceptualize high agency behaviour and decision-making in practical scenarios.

The concept has served me so well, even if I didn’t have the words to describe it, that I want to share what I have learned.

At the moment, I am obsessed with two framework ideas: high agency and storytelling and I want to build and embed these as core skills within my teams.

Imagine waking up every day feeling like you have the power to shape your own destiny. Instead of drifting along and waiting for life to happen to you, you’re the one calling the shots, taking bold steps, and turning challenges into opportunities. This is what it means to have high agency—a mindset where you’re not just a spectator in your own life but the main character actively writing the script.

High agency isn’t just a buzzword; it’s the secret sauce behind people who seem unstoppable, those who seize opportunities, pivot from setbacks, and lead with confidence. In a world where many feel stuck or overwhelmed, high-agency individuals are the ones who break through barriers and forge their own paths.

But what exactly does it mean to have agency? How can you recognize or even become one of these high-powered movers and shakers? What are the benefits, and how can you cultivate high agency?

Dive in, and let’s explore the mindset that separates the game-changers from the bystanders.

Understanding Agency: What Does It Mean to Have Agency, and What is a High Level of Agency?

High agency refers to the experiences we have when we set goals and take action to achieve them, giving us a sense of control over our lives. High agency vs. low agency is often discussed in terms of personal traits that affect success and decision-making. It’s the sense that your actions matter, your decisions shape your future, and you have the power to influence outcomes. High levels of agency take this a step further: they reflect a mindset where you don’t just react to life’s events—you proactively shape them. A high-agency person believes they are the driver of their own destiny, not just a passenger along for the ride.

People with a low sense of agency may feel like external factors, such as luck or fate, are shaping their path, leading to feelings of powerlessness.

Understanding ourselves as agents of change can help us set goals and take steps to improve our personal and professional lives.

Our sense of agency is affected by factors such as access to resources and the environment.

A high-agency person is someone who takes ownership of their life and decisions rather than blaming circumstances.



What is an Agency Mindset, and How to Develop One?

An agency mindset is all about believing in your capacity to create and affect change and being willing to act on that belief. An ownership mindset is crucial for cultivating high agency, as it involves taking responsibility for your actions and decisions. To develop a high-agency mindset, focus on:

1. Building a Growth Mindset: Believe that you can improve and learn through effort.
2. Taking Initiative: Don’t wait for the perfect moment or someone else’s go-ahead; start small, but start now.
3. Embracing Failure: View mistakes as learning opportunities rather than setbacks.
4. Practicing Decision-Making: Make choices, even small ones, and learn to trust your judgment.
5. Reflecting and Adjusting: Regularly evaluate your actions and outcomes to refine your approach.

Think of developing agency like building muscle—you strengthen it by using it. Start with small decisions or initiatives, gradually increasing as your confidence and skills grow.

What is a High Agency Person, and How Do They Differ from Low Agency Individuals?

A high-agency person takes initiative, embraces challenges, and persists in the face of obstacles. Low-agency people often exhibit a passive, helpless mindset, blaming external circumstances for their failures. They don’t wait for permission or ideal conditions; they act and adapt as needed. A low-agency person passively accepts limits imposed by others without questioning them. In contrast, low-agency individuals often feel like things happen to them rather than because of them. They may struggle with indecision, avoid taking risks, or rely heavily on others to solve their problems.

Think of it like playing a video game: high-agency people are the players actively controlling the character, making strategic moves to reach the next level. Low-agency individuals, on the other hand, might feel like they’re watching someone else play, passively waiting to see what happens.

The Benefits of High Agency

Overcoming Adverse Conditions:



• A study published in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology found that individuals with high personal agency are 25% more likely to successfully cope with stress and adversity compared to those with lower agency levels. High-agency people are able to overcome adverse conditions by taking bold actions to change their reality.

Focus on Controllable Actions:

• According to the American Psychological Association, individuals who focus on what they can control are 32% more likely to report higher life satisfaction and mental well-being than those who focus on external factors. They accept the hand they’re dealt and focus on what they can control: their actions.

Not Limited by External Expectations:

• Research by Harvard Business Review indicates that high-agency individuals are 40% more likely to pursue innovative projects and challenge existing norms compared to their low-agency counterparts.

• High-agency people are not limited by what others think is possible.

• One of my strongest motivators is when someone tells me that I can't do something. My response has always been, "Watch me!" I remember being in high school, and my Physics teacher kicked me out of class for the entire semester for challenging her and her preconceived notions. So, I found myself with an extra hour during the day every week to play basketball but at the expense of studying my rear off for a week to write the final, which I passed with an A.

Creative Execution and Innovation:

• A study from the Journal of Applied Psychology reported that high-agency individuals are 35% more effective at creative problem-solving and 28% more likely to find innovative solutions under pressure.

• I remember attending a workshop with Marcus Buckingham from Gallup early in my professional career with EY. As a prerequisite, we had to read Now, Discover Your Strengths and complete the Strengthsfinder test. My top five words are all high-agency words

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Success in Personal and Professional Life:

• A meta-analysis in the Journal of Occupational and Organizational Psychology found that high-agency individuals are 30% more likely to experience job satisfaction and 25% more likely to achieve career advancement compared to those with lower agency.

• Having a high agency mindset is an important personality trait for achieving success in personal and professional life. I have started half a dozen companies. Not surprisingly, a study published in the Journal of Business Venturing found that 74% of successful entrepreneurs exhibit a strong internal locus of control, which is closely related to high agency. This means we believe our actions directly affect their success, a key characteristic of high-agency individuals. Another one of my favourite sayings is, "Luck comes to the prepared!" Luck is absolutely important, but what is more important is what you do when Lady Luck arrives at your doorstep.

From Low to High Agency

A person’s belief in their ability to control their life is a key factor in developing high agency.

Social, Economic, and Cultural Factors:

• Low self-agency is not a moral failing but rather a result of social, economic, and cultural factors that can make people feel powerless.

• A study published in Social Science & Medicine showed that individuals from lower socioeconomic backgrounds are 50% more likely to report low levels of personal agency, highlighting the impact of external barriers.

Strategies to Boost Agency:

• Practical strategies for boosting one’s sense of agency include understanding what agency is, developing self-awareness, and letting go of feelings of powerlessness.

• The Journal of Counseling Psychology found that interventions aimed at increasing self-awareness and understanding of personal agency resulted in a 20% improvement in mental health outcomes and a 15% increase in personal effectiveness.

Positive Self-Image and Belief in Capabilities:

• Having a positive self-image and believing in oneself’s capabilities can also help increase agency in personal and professional life.

• According to research published in Psychological Science, individuals with high self-efficacy are 33% more likely to take proactive steps toward their goals and feel empowered in their personal and professional lives.

Mental Models and Decision-Making:

• Keith Rabois's ‘Barrels vs Ammunition’ model is used in 70% of leadership development programs in top business schools, illustrating its impact on teaching high-agency decision-making skills. They achieve their goals by questioning the status quo and finding innovative solutions. Creative execution is a crucial skill for high-agency individuals, enabling them to find innovative solutions and adapt to challenges.

Belief in Control as a Key Factor:

• Cultivating high agency requires a mental model that helps individuals understand that they have control over and can change the story they are told. One effective mental model, ‘Barrels vs Ammunition’ by Keith Rabois, illustrates how high agency manifests in real-world decision-making.

• A study in the Journal of Educational Psychology found that individuals with an internal locus of control are 45% more likely to engage in proactive behaviours and take responsibility for their outcomes compared to those with an external locus of control.

These data points provide clear, quantifiable evidence supporting the benefits of high agency and the strategies for developing it, making them powerful references for illustrating the importance of this mindset.

Cultivating High Agency

Cultivating high agency won’t be easy, but it’s not inscrutable magic and can be learned. High agency behaviour is characterized by high integrity and a proactive mindset that challenges limitations and actively seeks solutions.

Becoming a high-agency individual will be profoundly rewarding for you and those you work with. High agency people are relentlessly resourceful and never outsource their decision-making to others. When faced with challenges, they are able to bend reality to their will and find or make a way. Developing a second dialogue in your mind can help you cultivate high-agency thinking.

Putting High Agency into Practice

• People with high agency are characterized by their ability to achieve their goals through relentless resourcefulness and a willingness to bend reality.

• They are not limited by what others tell them is impossible and are always looking for ways to achieve their goals.

• If you had to call someone to break you out of a third-world prison, who would you call? This is probably the highest agency person you know.

• High-agency people are able to overcome obstacles and achieve their goals despite adversity.

• Their circumstances do not limit them, and instead, they take ownership of their life and decisions.

How to Identify High Agency Individuals?

Finding high-agency individuals is about looking for those who take charge, whether at work, in personal projects, or in navigating life’s everyday challenges. In contrast to 'person a,' who embodies low agency, 'person b' actively challenges limitations and takes control of their narrative. They’re often the ones who ask, “What can I do?” rather than “What’s going to happen?” In teams, they’re the proactive problem-solvers, and in social settings, they’re the planners who get things moving.

High-agency individuals tend to stand out because they:

• Take ownership of their actions and decisions, whether they succeed or fail.

• Look for solutions rather than dwelling on problems.

• Set clear goals and take proactive steps to achieve them.

• Demonstrate resilience and adaptability in the face of setbacks.

• Exhibit confidence in making decisions and moving forward, even with imperfect information.

You might spot them as the ones who don’t just point out what’s wrong in a situation—they’re already brainstorming how to fix it. They’re the go-to people in a crisis because they don’t shy away from taking charge.

What Does It Mean if a Person Has Low Agency?

Low agency means a person feels disconnected from their ability to influence their circumstances. They might be more passive, waiting for things to improve on their own or relying heavily on external factors or people to make decisions for them. It's like standing at a crossroads and not moving because you're waiting for someone else to tell you which path to take when something is impossible.

Summary

High agency is about taking control, making decisions, and actively shaping your world rather than just reacting to it. By fostering qualities like resilience, confidence, and a growth mindset, you can cultivate high agency in yourself and identify it in others. It’s the difference between being the player in the game of life or just a spectator on the sidelines.