We Focus on the Wrong Things!

Results. Numbers. Targets. Achieved Outcomes. School/College grades. Half-yearly numbers. Quarterly numbers. Sales calls. Meetings done.

Did you notice the common thing here? NUMBERS because they are easily measurable and that’s why we focus on them. Easy to judge the performance. Everything is crystal. No debate required. Either you worked or you didn’t.

We have fixation on these numbers, clearly this is what matters to us. You did good in a month but next month you messed up. You scored top marks in an exam and in next you barely passed. If you see the bigger picture, will you remember every score? Will you remember every month sales achievements? NO! No one can.

Aren’t we missing the point here?

The point being how we are arriving at these outcomes, these results, these numbers? Have we ever thought about what are we doing to achieve these results? What is the path we take; the process we follow?

Nah….we never thought about the process! All this while we have been focusing on the wrong side- OUTCOMES but we need to focus on the right side now- PROCESS.

Process tells us how we are going to achieve the results. And we repeat it irrespective it’s helping us or not. We need to study it thoroughly as it might not be working for us anymore. We need to change it with changing times. Our results will be our past, but our process will decide our future.

We should focus on right things to achieve desired outcomes-

• ·      What will be the strategy going forward?
• ·      Basis which information this strategy is formulated?
• ·      What will be the focus area?
• ·      What went right in the past?
• ·      What went wrong and how?
• ·      What support will be required?
• ·      What is the plan going forward and how are you going to stick with it?
• ·      What are the risks you foresee and how they can be mitigated?

We need to review the process and make appropriate changes to make it right.

A salesperson might have done everything to bag a deal but the Covid times played spoilsport or the client changed their plans or the country’s economy is shaky. A student might not score good because of the situation back home. So many times, outcomes are out of our control. But the process is in our control.

 You remember, in school we used to spend hours perfecting our sports, plays, dance. We used to get lots of homework trying to solid our fundamentals and their applications. How much time Neeraj Chopra must have spent perfecting his Javelin throw- hours, days, weeks, months, years. Perfecting his process each time. How much time cricketers spend in practicing their sport- more than they spend on playing actual matches.

Its time we should put the focus back on process- ON HOW TO ACHIEVE. Most time is wasted focusing on results and dissecting it. Instead spend time in improving the process.

We know the rewards feel good once we succeed and at the same time how low is the feeling when we fall behind. So, let’s take control of the process which will lead us to desired results. Let teach ourselves and improve the art of our work. Trust that this will influence your work in much better way.