Author Seth Godin laments that we live in an outcome-focused culture, and that “lost in this obsession with outcome is the truth that outcomes are the result of processes. Good processes, repeated over time, lead to good outcomes more often than lazy processes do,” he writes.
A friend recently gave me an illustration of this concept in action. As with all workout programs, the physical changes don’t immediately manifest themselves (the outcome) and often discourage people from continuing their exercise program (the process). As a way to motivate members to press on, the Orange Therapy facilities hold “benchmark days” where members do a certain exercise and measure their performance. Progress can seem elusive, so the results of these benchmarks allow people to see objective measures that they are making progress over time, even if it doesn’t feel like it or yet look like it.
The same concept applies at work and in many other settings. How can you develop benchmarks or milestones that allow you to objectively assess how far you’ve come? Sticking with the process is a long and lonely road without some sign that you are on the right path. Building in incremental motivation is an essential component so you know there is movement long before any outcome is visible.
Source: The Practice by Seth Godin, 2020, p. 22-23
