Focus On The Process

One of the most consistent pieces of advice we’ve all been given is a reminder to “focus on the process”.

It connects in with other common guidelines: Finding validation in the day to day and not getting too attached to outcomes… It’s the journey not the destination… But it’s a recommendation that goes beyond finding fulfillment. It’s also the direction of generating results.

In business, people talk about  KPIs - "Key Performance Indicators". These are the metrics that determine if things are headed the right direction. Businesses are complex so it’s helpful to have one datapoint that you measure to know if your actions are driving meaningful change. 

But those are related the outcomes, the tangible shifts in reality that occurred. Equally important to measure is the consistency with which we’re taking strategic action, which we do in good faith that they’ll steer the outcomes in our favor.

That’s why as far as KPIs go, there are two types: Leading metrics and lagging metrics.

Leading metrics refer to the inputs that are in your direct control - the actions and the way you’re working the process. Lagging indicators are the results that come about based on those leading actions, which represent the ultimate transformation you’re trying to create.

The reason I make that distinction is because when we talk about focusing on the process, there's an acceptance that the results are out of our control. We can commit to taking actions in ways that we believe are most likely to generate the results we want, and that’s exactly what we should do, but the results aren’t guaranteed. 

Cause and effect is real. Certain inputs tend to generate certain outputs. And that’s where the art and science comes in - How do you take in feedback to change your approach so that you maximize your ability to obtain a desired outcome? This is a strategic process. It’s not part of the day to day and should only happen at certain intervals.

The balance is: We define the strategy in one focused session (to support our success toward achieving lagging indicators) to then allocate the majority of our attention focusing on the process (executing the plan consistently to meet leading indicators). 

Daily actions are derived from our committed strategies, which support the achievement of our stated goals. And you need clarity at each step to ensure your efforts are materializing into what you want.