The Universe is not outside of you. Look inside yourself; everything that you want, you already are.” – Rumi
It’s easy for most of us to be in the present when we’re at home or with our loved ones. But at work, things are more challenging, right? At least, we tend to think they are. Work is typically more goal-oriented and probably should be. Oddly enough, much to be gained when you focus on your journey at work. Take a look at these unexpected benefits of becoming more process-oriented than goal-oriented:
You See the Opportunities Before Anyone Else
When you are always focused on the goal, you sometimes don’t see things that don’t align perfectly with this goal. This focus on the objectives creates this sort of tunnel vision. But when you are paying attention to the journey, you start noticing the details of the world around you. Here is where you might find a new direction that everyone else has missed. Or you might see a new way in which to do something. This awareness skill is vital for leaders to build, especially when it helps them to spot the trends or other opportunities before those around them.
You See the Problems Before Anyone Else
Likewise, you will notice when things go wrong much faster than those staring only at the goal. More often than not, the brewing problems go unnoticed when you are hyper-focused on the outcome. Also, being goal-oriented tends to blind you to the lessons you might otherwise learn from failure. When you focus on the journey, you have time to notice these problems before becoming serious and doing something about them before it’s too late.
You Can Keep Your Performance Up
Are you having a bad day? If you are goal-oriented, you might force your way through bad times without noticing how much your productivity is dropping. When you are focusing on the journey, you know immediately when your game is off, and you can take steps to do something about it and bring yourself back up to speed before losing too much momentum.
You Will Have More Satisfaction in Your Work
Focusing more on the journey than the goal will make you more content in your work life. There is less room for dissatisfaction when you are mindful and in the present. This mental shift makes the entire work experience much more relaxing and less stressful. Obviously, being more relaxed at work is a good thing because you’re probably easier to work with and, as such, is much more appreciated in the long run by those above you.
Altogether, it is worth shifting your focus to the process instead of the goal – even in the workplace. After all, wouldn’t you love to experience more satisfaction and a lot less stress in your workday?
