Ask Yourself If You’re Motivated By Results, Or The Process, To Be More Productive

Ask Yourself If You’re Motivated By Results, Or The Process, To Be More Productive

Lots of productivity methods are effective for lots of different people, but while you’re considering a method, you should also consider what motivates you most to work (beyond the paycheck, that is). Are you motivated by results? Or do you find joy in the process? That will help you find — or remix — a method that works for you.

Photo by jayneandd.

In a treatise on the topic over at Fast Company, Art Markman explains the logic behind some very simple advice:

  • If you’re motivated by results, breaking up tasks into bite-size, achievable chunks will work well for you. People who are motivated by results get more benefit from making measurable progress and racking up accomplishments.
  • If you’re motivated by the process, avoid thinking of your projects as goals at all, and focus on the way you get things done and how they make you feel. Markman notes that “reimagine what you do in terms of the processes you follow to do it, with the goals as mere side effects. This process orientation can be valuable, because it helps you focus on the habits that contribute to your success — consistently.”

Of course, if you’re the latter type, that’s a little bit of a wishy-washy answer, but the key is to focus on whether the productivity method is helpful in helping you get things done, versus helping you rack up achievements and measurable accomplishments. That’s the way to think about it. For more, hit the links below to read the whole piece.

How to Prevent Your Next Productivity Boost from Eventually Losing Steam [Fast Company via The Science of Us]


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