The undeniable truth that leaders and performers must accept is they don’t control outcomes, but they always control the process leading to the result. When a golfer declares their goal is to shoot 69, they are describing an outcome, not a goal. This detracts from performance because it focuses attention on the desired outcome and not the steps it takes to get there.
Convincing others to identify and focus on the process, not the outcome, is one of the most important challenges leaders face. The best leaders know the pathway to achievement begins with process goals and concludes with outcomes. The job is to ask others to focus on what they control and then let the score or result take care of itself. Because process goals are actions we control, we can observe and measure them precisely, boosting our confidence when we accomplish them.
When we say to ourselves in front of the mirror that we want to lose 20 pounds, we are describing the desired outcome, not the steps or actions to get there. Process goals like consuming 200 fewer calories per day, daily cardio exercise elevating heart rate, and taking the stairs every time are the magic behind eventually achieving the desired outcome of weight loss.
When we allow others to focus on the outcome and not the process, we fail to lead them to victory. The best leaders spend less time speaking about winning the game, increasing market share, acquiring a new client, or developing a breakthrough product (all outcomes) and more time on the process goals and the associated steps and actions to get there. We control the process, not the outcome. Make the process your focus.
