There is some debate as to whether goals should be process or outcome driven. What does this even mean anyway? Is one approach better than the other? Is there a middle road? In this article I will discuss both cases and offer some thoughts for you to consider when setting your outcomes.
It is fair to say that when most people consider a goal they think of it as having an outcome of some sort. The question is whether this is an "outcome" or a "process" outcome.
By an "outcome" type of outcome I mean that the end point of your goal is SMART in nature, i.e. specific, measurable, attainable, relevant and timed. This type of goal target forces you to focus on exactly what you want and also forces you to provide the details required to allow an objective and verifiable measure of completion and success (or failure). An example would be "I will weigh less than 160 lbs, be able to do 10 chin-ups and fit into 34" waist pants by January 30th 2013." This (completely fictitious I assure you) goal fits the SMART criteria well. This type of goal setting is useful for achieving specific required results or completing specific required actions.
By a "process" outcome I mean that the end point is a much more subjective situation. For example "I want to run two or three times a week in order to feel healthier and happier and look better in my clothes." This is clearly not a SMART objective. You could measure the number of runs taken but neither the duration or distance of run is mentioned or the period of time for that matter. It is still a goal and you can have your subjective decision for success or failure at a point of your choosing. You can still consider it a success or failure. This type of goal setting is useful for changes of mind-set or habits over time.
Which is best? The answer is of course, neither of them. They both have positive and negative facets and they are also highly context dependent.
Your overarching big goal in life may actually be a mixture of the two. For example "I want to be a highly paid public speaker and author by the time I am 55 years old." This goal has some SMART and some subjective portions. It is timed and has stated that you want to be a public speaker and an author. It doesn't state what you will speak or write about nor does it define how much "highly paid" actually is. It is therefore a mixture of outcome and process drivers.
Taking this further, if you break your big goal down into smaller sub-goals, these can also be one or the other or both.
The important take-away point is that it could be problematic to stick with one type of goal exclusively. Too much outcome thinking can lead to obsession and feelings of inevitable failure, whilst too much process subjectivity can lead to loss of focus and dilution of effort.
Both of these goal setting approaches have great merit and, when used in a constructive and balanced way, can yield fantastic results.
I wish you well with all your upcoming challenges.
I'm Andy Pope and I am committed to helping individuals and organisations develop more effective face to face communication skills and personal development. I hope you enjoyed this article.
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