Q: What’s the difference between an OUTCOME GOAL and a PROCESS GOAL? 

It’s fairly straightforward:

• • Outcome goals relate to WHAT you want to achieve when all is said and done.
  • Process goals relate to HOW you go about it.  It’s the little moment by moment, day by day, week by week, month by month criteria you set out for yourself.

Examples:

“In order to get stronger [outcome], I need to focus on getting a good muscle contraction on each repetition [process]”

“In order to lose 10 lbs [outcome], I need to make sure I limit eating out to 1x per week [process]”

“In order to achieve rank number in snatch [outcome], I need to get at least 3 snatch workouts in per week [process], as well as keep from over pulling with my arm and just let my hips and momentum do the work [process]”

Q: Why does it matter to distinguish between the two?

As it turns out, which goal type you focus on usually means the difference between whether you succeed or fail to meet your goal.  This makes sense in alot of ways, but one obvious way (hopefully) is that when you focus on the process, you are also acutely aware of what you must do to

• • adapt to difficult situations,
  • make adjustments, and
  • find workarounds.

In other words, you are invested in the process of goal pursuit rather than the goal itself.  When you invest in the goal, you are easily let down when you fall short of actually getting there. However, when you invest yourself in the process, you inoculate yourself against “failure” because you have seen the journey for what it truly is: a step-by-step process of personal growth achieved through small wins day in and day out.

You can do this.

Solly is the head coach of the Nanaimo Kettlebell Club and has been training clients for over 15 years. He has twice been on Team Canada as both an athlete and coach, and has continues to operate the longest running kettlebell sport event in Canada.