What do you do when you feel like you are doing all the right things, actively engaged in a process of improvement for life, yet things are just not happening? I mentioned last time that it starts with a period of quiet reflection and asking yourself the question, “Who are you competing with or obsessing over that’s distracting you?” [click link here]
My response to that challenge was to reach for the silver bullet: when triggered, reaffirm your commitment to cultivating your best self and your big plan and take a small step in that direction. Don’t dissipate your own creative power.
Here is the third soul searching question you need to ask yourself? Are you rushing an important process you are engaged in?
For all of you artists and free spirits out there, here is a spoiler alert: most things in life happen in the form of a process. I know, for those of us who pride ourselves on being innovative and coloring outside the lines, this is a hard one to bend a knee to.
Who is prone to skipping the steps?
Recent studies found that darker personality traits were associated with corner-cutting. Most significantly, corner-cutters were likely to be low in conscientiousness, low in honesty and high in psychopathy (i.e., impulsive, callous social attitudes). Corner-cutters also scored high in Machiavellianism (i.e., manipulation, self-interest) and narcissism (i.e., grandiosity, pride)*.
Age and gender were also factors in corner-cutting, such that employees who cut corners at work tended to be younger and male. Man, all of sudden I feel great about my age – Whew!
Why we dislike Process
Being in a process can feel mechanical, limiting, or just unmotivating. And the biggest bummer when we rush or skips steps in a process? We skip the lessons attached to each step of the process. We wonder why we are super successful at business and yet going on marriage number three. That is not a slam or judgment, it’s a root cause analysis overlooked.
Gotta know the Process
Processes are designed to streamline the way we work and even live day to day. When we follow a well-tested set of steps, there are fewer errors and delays, there is less duplicated effort, and staff and customers feel more satisfied. If we are struggling with rushing the process or buying into the process – we are struggling with control. That is a fear-based, lower order motive that will not reward us.
MAKE SURE YOU KNOW THE PROCESS BEFORE YOU TRUST THE PROCESS.
Take any issue that is dogging you and:
- Map the process in steps
- Perform and measure
- Analyze and improve
Next Step Take 15-30 minutes every morning to reflect on how or if there is a process connected to your biggest challenge or goal for improvement? Are you realistic about the time it takes to perform, measure, analyze and improve? Come to a conclusion, then start a conversation with someone you trust and respect.
This is part three of a five-part series taken directly from
“The Rewired Group – Coaching Experience.”