Falling in love with a process leads to death

This morning I was driving my son to school. It’s the first day of school. That means there are a lot more parents driving their kids to school than on a typical school day. Increased traffic has impacts. As I approached a four-way stop, the line of traffic waiting was 4 to 5 times as long as usual; this meant I would be delayed by a lot, potentially missing getting my son to school on time. I had a decision to make do I continue on the route I typically take, the comfortable and familiar path, knowing I will be delayed, or do I consider making an adjustment?

In this instance, going a single street up would add a traffic light, but I would miss all of the traffic. I decided to take the alternate route because, in the moment, I reminded myself the goal was to get my son to school on time and how we get there was not a factor of whether or not we succeeded. 

So What?

We need to consistently remind ourselves in life and the workplace that the way that we do things, our process, is not our purpose. Following the process is not the goal. The goal is to achieve the outcome the process was designed to achieve. 

So, although the process exists for a reason, and there may be parts of the process that are necessary because they enable you to follow the rules/laws, or they keep you/others safe or enable success today. In my example, I didn’t say I made an alternative decision to speed or ignore the 4 way stop. Some parts of the process might be required, but the goal of your job is not to execute the process.

(one more time in case you missed it) The goal of your job is ALWAYS BIGGER than the process. I guarantee it. How can I do that? Because if the BIGGER thing didn’t exist, there would be no need for the process. The process exists to achieve the thing, not the other way around. 

But oftentimes, people become infatuated with the process. Showing up daily simply to execute what they’ve been told to do in the way they are told to do it. Applauding themselves or others on adherence, regardless of outcomes. They ignore or forget, or are unaware of the BIGGER goal the process was designed to achieve. 

This lack of focus on the BIGGER thing is a recipe for disaster. When this happens, you, the process, and the goal the process was designed to achieve all become stagnant. When things become stagnant, they stop growing. I believe there is a saying that if you aren’t growing, you are dying. 

When the process becomes the thing that is celebrated, you (or your business) is on a slow journey towards death; likely not actual death, but some kind of permanent end is in your future, perhaps:

• You lose your job to someone who sees a better way to achieve the BIGGER thing.

• You lose your customer to a competitor who innovates a better solution to the BIGGER thing.

• You lose your soul to mindlessly following the process instead of reminding yourself that you are impacting a BIGGER thing.

How to avoid stagnation 

Over time things change. New laws, new technology, new people, and new possibilities emerge. As these new things emerge, even the most perfect process can become ineffective or inefficient. When this happens, the end I talked about is in your future. I recommend being an active participant in determining what ends and what the new beginning looks like. To do that, I recommend this process (I couldn’t help myself)

Start by reminding yourself often that the reason you (and your job) exist is to achieve a goal. That goal is not to successfully execute a process. It is to accomplish some BIGGER thing. Name that thing; if you can’t ask someone to help you name it. Once it is named, you can begin to avoid stagnation.  

Step One stay focused on the BIGGER thing. Do that by consistently asking these questions

• What is the BIGGER thing that me/my job exists to achieve?

• How am I helping to achieve the Bigger something?

• What does successfully achieving that BIGGER thing look like?

• Who is positively impacted when I successfully achieve that BIGGER thing?

 Step Two Think about what is happening around you that might impact that BIGGER thing. Asking questions like

• Has anything changed that should prompt me to rethink how I achieve the BIGGER thing?

• Has a new technology or way of thinking emerged?

• Do I know something new, or can I do something better that allows for me to make a change?

• A new competitor emerging?

• Is the BIGGER thing still the right thing to be working towards?

 Step Three Figure out what the change could be and design the new process. 

• Make sure a change is allowable. I am a fan of obeying laws and keeping people safe. If there are parts of the process that must stay for the right reasons, then leave them be.

• Ask a trusted advisor what they think of the change you want to make.

• Try it out (or if you must, ask permission to try it out first)

• Evaluate your trial run

• How did it go?

• Did you still achieve the BIGGER thing?

• Is everyone still legal and safe?

• Was it actually a better outcome or faster outcome, or a more efficient way to achieve the BIGGER thing?

• Make any adjustments and try again.

 Step Four If it works, let others know.

• If the change is worth the discomfort of getting over a new way of doing something, then socialize the change and make it the new process.

• Let others know about your success in changing. This may potentially motivate them to make changes too.

• It is often a helpful approach to start these conversations by reminding people of the BIGGER thing; they might still be infatuated with the process and need the reminder before being open to your new way.

 Conclusion 

Today my detour on the way to school may have taken me out of my comfort zone and required me to do things differently, but because of the traffic on my regular route, I actually arrived at the school earlier than some of the cars that we passed waiting at the four-way stop. The change was worth the discomfort of doing something new because we achieved our ultimate goal, and it even resulted in doing so more quickly than following the old process. It might just become my new way. 

Don't be afraid to ask questions and try new things. Embrace the discomfort of pushing against the boundary to see what is on the other side. Most boundaries are self-imposed, so it's okay to adjust them. They don’t mind in the least.