The activity-based vs results-based way of working
By adjusting your way of working to focus on the results of an activity rather than the activity itself, you’ll be able to set clear goals and easily see how the actions pay off.
The task may look like the same work - but the mindset differs when we change our to do’s into a results-oriented way of working.
Success is not checking off a to do
It feels great checking off to dos. We all know the feeling. Some of us even write down to dos after executing on them, just so that we can get the satisfaction of checking it off.
But an activity is not successful once it has happened or has been executed, it is successful once the result you aimed for has been hit.
Activity based way of working rewards shipping an email.
Results based way of working rewards booking a meeting.
It’s never about attending an event. It’s about getting new leads or having successful meetings during the event, or it’s about content creation for social amplification.
By setting clear goals and intentions for each activity, you’ll be able to focus on the specific task, reach your targets and see the results in real time.
Beware of the blockers
Obviously we all want results but a lot of us end up with having to-do lists.
We don’t know why people tend to work activity-based, but we have a few guesses.
It is easier to create a simple to do list with activities - it does not demand that you think through why you are doing it or what success looks like. It’s an action item with no questions asked.
And the big one; there is no real accountability attached to a to do list. Once you’ve shipped that email to book a meeting, you did what you were supposed to do. Right? Wrong. It’s about booking that meeting and if the first email doesn’t do the trick - you need to write another one, give the contact a call or send a pigeon before you resign or reach your result.
Use a results-based framework
One way of helping yourself and your team is by using a framework focused on results rather than to do’s.
It’s not important what framework you use, it’s just important that you have one that your team can use consistently.
We use Rapid Experimentation and Experiment Cards. These are great tools to help you remember to in a work results-based way.
When you fill out an experiment card you need to answer these results-based questions;
What we believe (the hypothesis behind the activity)
How we will verify this hypothesis
What we will measure (what is the metric that identifies success for this activity?)
And what success looks like
It’s not about getting rid of the to-do list. It’s about giving the to-dos a new definition of success.
Good luck!
What is Rapid Experimentation?
How to use an Experiment Card
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