Say it like this
- Can you make that feedback a bit more actionable?
- The report has some actionable insights for sales.
- Let's end with actionable next steps.
Use it at work
Asking for clearer feedback
- Could you make that more actionable?
- What would you change specifically?
Presenting data
- Here are three actionable insights.
- The key takeaway is...
Closing a meeting
- Let's list actionable next steps.
- Who owns each one?
Don't say this
Actionable is an adjective, not a verb.
Don't mix it up
| Term | What it is | Who writes or uses it | When |
|---|---|---|---|
| actionable | clear enough to act on | business | feedback, data |
| action item | a task from a meeting | everyone | meeting notes |
| action (verb) | to do or handle something | business, UK | "I'll action that" |
Practice
Try it
4 quick exercises
1. Which piece of feedback is the most actionable?
2. Good retros end with a few _______ improvements, each with an owner.
3. Which sentence uses 'actionable' correctly?
4. Rewrite this feedback to make it actionable: 'The dashboard is confusing.'
Say it out loud
Phrase 1 of 3
"Can you make that feedback a bit more actionable?"
We don't save your recording. The word check uses your browser's speech recognition.
More about actionable
Real examples(3)
- in a code review
"Not very actionable, sorry! Specifically: could you extract this loop into a helper?"
- in an analytics review
"The actionable insight here is that most users drop off on the pricing page."
- ending a meeting
"Let's make sure every item on this list is actionable and has an owner."
More mistakes(2)
Handle with care. In contracts and legal discussions, "actionable" means "could lead to a lawsuit".
- ✕Make the website better. (as feedback)✓Make the sign-up button bigger and move it above the fold.
Feedback is actionable only when the next step is clear.
- ✕This comment is very actionable to sue.✓This comment could lead to legal action.
In legal contexts, actionable means "could be grounds for a lawsuit".
Other forms(3)
- action noun
"What's the next action?"
- action verb (business)
"Can you action this by Friday?"
- action item noun
"Two action items came out of the meeting."
Often used with(3)
- actionable feedback · clear, specific feedback
- actionable insights · useful findings from data
- actionable next steps · clear tasks after a meeting
Similar words(3)
- practical · plain English
- concrete · specific
- specific · clear and detailed
Opposites(3)
- vague
- abstract
- hand-wavy
Questions(4)
- What does actionable mean?
- Actionable means clear and practical enough to act on right away.
- What is actionable feedback?
- Feedback that tells the person exactly what to change, for example "shorten the intro to two sentences".
- What are actionable insights?
- Findings from data that point to a clear decision or next step.
- Does actionable have a legal meaning?
- Yes. In law, it means something gives a reason to take legal action, such as a lawsuit.
