Why Outcomes Matter More than Outputs

7/22/24 

Ever felt like you're just spinning your wheels? Completing tasks, hitting deadlines, but never quite feeling like you're making real progress? This feeling can be especially prevalent in fields like IT, project management, marketing, or even personal development. In IT specifically, we could look at our number of tickets resolved as an indicator of our performance. We get caught up in the outputs, the tangible immediate results of our efforts, without focusing on the bigger picture: the outcomes.

Think of outputs as the bricks you use to build a house. Writing reports, attending meetings, completed trainings - these are all outputs. They're important steps in the process, but they don't tell the whole story, and often they don't solve the overarching problem.

The outcome is the actual house – the finished product with a purpose. Did the report lead to a change in policy? Did the meeting result in a new strategy? Did the training lead to improved skills? These are the outcomes, the ultimate impact of your efforts.

Focusing solely on outputs can lead to a sense of busywork. We get caught up in checking boxes and meeting deadlines without considering the bigger picture. This can lead to:

• Wasted effort: We might be producing outputs that don't actually contribute to the desired outcome, sometimes because they perpetuate the problem without addressing it.

• Frustration: When outputs don't translate to results, it can be demotivating for both ourselves and our colleagues.

• Missed opportunities: We might overlook alternative approaches that could achieve a better outcome.

So how do we move from outputs to outcomes? Here are a few tips:

As Simon Sinek is famous for saying, Start with the "Why": Before diving into any task, ask yourself, "What are we ultimately trying to achieve?" Go as far upstream as possible,  clearly define the desired outcome and communicate it to everyone involved.

Focus on Impact: Evaluate your activities based on their potential impact, not just on completion.

Embrace Metrics, but Choose Wisely: Track metrics that measure progress towards the desired outcome, not just completion rates of individual tasks. Focus on the most important goal, and spend your energy there.

By focusing on outcomes, we become more strategic and impactful in our work. We move beyond simply completing tasks to making a real difference. This can lead to increased job satisfaction, improved collaboration, and a better understanding of our overall contribution.

So, the next time you're feeling overwhelmed with tasks, take a step back and consider the desired outcome. Are your activities moving you closer to that goal? By focusing on outcomes, you can transform your work from busywork to meaningful impact.