High Agency

 


This buzzword, making rounds across podcasts, is essentially described as the power to shape own lives and outcomes rather than being controlled by external factors. 

People with high agency

  • Take initiative in solving their problems.
  • Take responsibility for their actions.
  • Believe in their ability to influence their environment.

It is fairly obvious what high agency means. However, the underlying factors that lead to high agency are not always apparent. Let’s explore some of these related factors.

Intelligence



This refers to the ability to understand, learn, and think. Intelligence helps us break down complex problems into smaller, manageable parts and think through or evaluate them at a deeper level. It should not be confused with credentials, test scores, or memory prowess. There is no definitive indicator of intelligence,not even IQ. However, most people possess the basic intelligence required for daily life. The difference between high and low intelligence often comes down to its utilization rather than capacity. When people sit calmly with focus and reflect on a subject, they often achieve better outcomes than those with a higher IQ but less thoughtful engagement.

Industriousness



This refers to being hardworking and diligent. While hard work is important for success, industriousness alone is not a positive quality. Most problems have multiple solutions, some obvious, others requiring insight. Intelligence helps us find simpler, more efficient solutions. Our ancestors used sticks and stones to fight predators, not brute strength. Modern technology aims to reduce human effort, not increase it. This doesn’t mean we should be lazy, but rather that we should think before acting blindly and avoid wasting time and energy.

Motivation



This refers to the internal drive toward a goal. A goal doesn’t have to be a grand life ambition; it can be a small objective formed through thoughtful reflection on a problem. Goals born from deliberate thinking tend to be self-motivating. In contrast, goals inspired by desires or by observing others often lack staying power and are frequently abandoned midway.

Connecting the Dots


Faced with any life problem, intelligence enables us to carefully analyze it, understanding the requirements, constraints, and feasibility of various solutions. It helps us compare options and form a strategy or plan. This process naturally favors efficient solutions over effort-heavy ones. Creating your own strategy requires no external motivation; it becomes motivation in itself. Intelligence is the foundation of agency; without it, one is essentially shooting in the dark.

High agency is ultimately the result of effectively utilizing the intelligence that most humans already possess. Instead of focusing on building high agency by mimicking the outcomes associated with it, one should start by making better use of their own intelligence. The natural consequence of doing so is becoming a person with high agency.

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