Set the Goal, Work the Process
Samuel Mpamugo
Digital Governance Researcher | Executive Coach | Monitoring & Evaluation Expert
Years ago, I read?Goals?by Brian Tracy. It was one of my birthday gifts, and I loved it. That’s when my obsession with goals began. However, my goals were still not happening fast enough, and eventually, I got frustrated. I had the information, and knew where I wanted to go, but why was I not getting results??
Over time, I discovered the missing piece, and everything changed. Back then, I understood goal setting but was blind to the value of the process. I knew how to think up ideas, but had not figured out the path between envisioning my goal and achieving it. The process was the key; I didn’t see it.
The process is the engine of a goal. If you have a goal but lack the skill to effectively manage the process, achieving your goal is unlikely. It doesn’t matter how well researched and thought out your strategy is, if the process fails, the strategy won’t work. Corporate leaders and teams should go beyond strategic planning, and work hard to ensure that the process goes right. Crafting strategy is the easy part, but managing the execution process is a tough job.
The process is the rollercoaster aspect of the goal. Generally, it’s full of tests and trials. It is when you’ve planned to go to the gym at 6 am, and you keep snoozing your alarm because your bed is warm and it is cold outside. It is the part of your goal that is a struggle, and you have to fight to build the discipline to stay the course. The process is the unsexy part of goal setting.
Here, two things happen: people either push through or quit – and many quit. People who eventually succeed win the fight at the process stage. In the success equation, the process is the main factor. It is the messy stretch where you sink or swim. This is why I wish we would pay more attention to the process instead of the fantasy of the finish line.
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Now, I set goals, and then focus on the process. I ensure that I build the capacity required to stay the course because if I do the process right, I’ll achieve my purpose. What needs to be in place for you to succeed in your process? What level of discipline and focus do you need to have for the process to succeed? Commit to the process, and you will achieve your purpose. The process is gold.
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Photo by: Milad Fakurian