Process Oriented Thinking Examples

As we continue to study and work with our team on process vs result oriented thinking using various resources I went back to some notes from the book Influencer.

Process Oriented Thinking Examples

From the book, Influencer—The Power To Change Anything

By setting small goals (daily monitoring and recording) and meeting them, people will now focus on things that they can see and control. This enhances their sense of efficacy.

Influence masters have long known the importance of setting clear and achievable goals. First, they understand the importance of setting specific goals. People say that they understand this concept, but few actually put the concept into practice. For example, average basketball players set goals to improve their “concentration” (exactly what is that?), whereas top performers decide they need to practice shooting the basketball by holding a high one second follow-through—and they understand each element in holding a proper follow-through.

As part of this focus on specific levels of achievement, tip performers set their goals to improve behaviors or processes rather than outcomes (Process thinking vs Outcome oriented thinking). For example, top basketball performers set process goals aimed at receiving the ball with two hands, with two feet in the air and land in a jumpstop. Mediocre performers set outcome goals such as winning scoring so many points or playing so many minutes.

Another example, players who routinely hit 70% or more of their free throws tend to practice differently from those who hit 55% or less. How? Better shooters set technique-oriented goals such as “Keep elbow in,” or, “Hold a high follow-through”. Players who shoot 55% and under tend to think more about results-oriented goals such as, “This time I’m going to make ten in a row.”