Most people struggle to follow through on their goals.
Not because they donât understand how to set goals effectively. But rather, because it lacks a crucial element that reduces procrastination and increases motivation.
The problem?
Most people focus on the big outcome goals they desire. You know, the result-oriented ones like becoming a CEO or winning the marathon.
I encourage everyone to set such goals, as they are very inspiring life goals.
But to make sure you also achieve success in them, you also need process goals. And you will learn all about it in this article.
So letâs dive in!
What is a process goal?
Process goals focus on the action you take, not the result you get.
These goals often focus on a short time frame that urges you to take action. And since itâs 100% within your control, you determine whether you succeed or not.
For example:
- A result-oriented goal: run a marathon under 3 hours.
- A process goal: run 5 miles this week.
To set powerful goals, you need both types.
What you desire are often result-oriented goals. And the process-oriented moves you in the direction of success.
Why set process-oriented goals
When you want to climb a mountain, you donât focus on the peak all the time. Instead, you focus on every step along the way. And every time you look up, the mountain peak gets closer.
The same goes for process goals.
Hereâs are some of its benefits:
- 100% within your control;
- The focus on action makes it concrete and clear;
- Easy to track progress, which increases motivation;
- And reduces overwhelm and procrastination.
In addition, process goals are easily broken up into smaller goals. When you achieve goals – no matter how small – you will likely set new goals.
This process not only propels you forward but also makes you feel good.
When they are most powerful
Process goals work the best on goals with a short time frame.
The reason is that it creates urgency. And urgency helps you t take action fast, which is the main purpose of process-oriented goals.
For example, a goal of running 365 miles this year wouldnât inspire you to get out of the door right now, would it?
It simply lacks urgency.
You can skip a day – or a couple – and still hit the goal, right?
Until you figure out that at day 348, you still have 120 miles on the clock. And when people start realizing that, they feel daunted by the task and often give up.
But what if you said to make this a daily goal of one mile a day? Wouldnât that urge you to get out right now and finish that micro-goal?
Thinking about this, I should get going…
How to set action-based goals
Like any goal, process goals are best set according to the SMART goals method.
Here is a quick summary:
- Specific: you want to know exactly what to do;
- Measurable: which is a key element to fuel motivation along the way;
- Achievable: action-oriented goals should be realistic to increase motivation;
- Relevant: ensure that the process goal adds up to a bigger vision;
- Timely: increase urgency by setting a deadline.
If you follow this simple structure, you will set helpful goals. And if the goal motivates you into action, then you know youâve set it right.
Process goals examples
You can set process goals for short-term and long-term goals. But we also discussed that the shorter the time frame, the more effective process-oriented goals become.
Therefore, use this for every micro goal you set. Though you can also use it for the other types of goals. Below are some examples:
Long-term process-oriented goals:
- Run 500 miles this year.
- Write 15.000 words this year.
- Post 1 time on social media every day for a year.
- Practice a programming language for 20 minutes a day until mastery.
Short-term process-oriented goals:
- Run 50 miles in 3 months.
- Practice 100 hours of Spanish in the next 3 months.
- Play the guitar 20 minutes a day, 5 days per week, for the next 6 months.
- Practice a programming language for 20 minutes a day for the next month.
Micro process-oriented goals:
- Run 2 miles today.
- Run 5 miles this week.
- Write 500 words every day.
- Reach out to 20 people on LinkedIn today.
- Practice 15 minutes of Spanish every day this week.
- Play the guitar 5 days this week for 20 minutes per day.
- Post 5 times on social media every day this week.
As you can see, each of these goals is clear and specific, measurable, achievable, and timely. And if they are also relevant, that depends on your ambitions and desires.
5 Things to watch out for
Process-oriented goals are great if you set them right. That said, there are some important pitfalls to watch out for when setting them.
Here are the most important ones:
- Lacking a bigger vision: why you set your process goals is crucial to ensure high levels of motivation and success.
- No joy in your goal: process goals should inspire you to take action and make progress, which is much harder when the goal doesnât inspire you.
- Setting too many goals: which results in a lack of focus and an increase of stress, making it much harder for you to achieve success.
- Unrealistic process goals: realistic goals are especially important for process-oriented ones because these goals should inspire you into action.
- Lacking measurability: seeing your progress increase as you take action is one of the biggest reasons why process goals are extremely motivating.
Make sure to avoid these pitfalls if you want to achieve success with your process goals.
Closing thoughts
Process goals are most helpful when they support your bigger vision and the mission statement for your life. When set right, these motivate you into action and help you to achieve more success in your life.
Itâs also a technique I like to use for monthly goal challenges, in which I commit to learning a new skill or exploring an interest every day for 30 days.
When trying to learn a new skill or language, for example.
And to make goal-setting an effective habit, check out these goal organizers. And if you prefer a digital goal-setting planner then read my review of Goals on Track.
Want to dive even deeper? Here are the top books about goal-setting.
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