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D. Bruce Merrifield, Jr

#9. Balance “Flow” Process-Inputs With Ambitious Goals 


Goals are like North Stars that help you to design plans and to “stretch” to achieve them. 

But, once the goals are set, you spend 99% of your time working on controllable inputs that only increase the odds for approaching your goals. But, un-controllable surprises will happen that can influence final outcomes. Even if you adapt in mid-course by “trying harder” or differently on inputs, goals are - to some degree - wishful thinking affected by fortune.   

How then to make input-work as effective as possible? First, make outcome goals optimally stressful. Sandbagging goals allows us to stay on autopilot, which is boring, not-creative, and with sub-optimal results. If goals are too audacious, then stress eats into input effectiveness. The amount learning-zone, stretch goals will keep you and/or your team: engaged, creative, collaborative, and in “psychological flow”?

Psychological Flow is a mental state in which you are so optimally engaged with process activity that you lose sense of time. You don’t have distractive thoughts. And, your brain releases neurochemicals (esp. dopamine) that create a euphoric experience, which can make you want to keep going. 

(A sports expression for flow is “to be in the zone”. Wikipedia “flow (psychology)” for more.). 

Flow research suggests these things (and more):
  1. The challenge level should not be either too easy/boring or too stressful: one target range conclusion was about 98 to 104% of your maximum capability.
  2. McKinsey (consultants) renamed Team-Flow in the workplace to “Meaning Quotient”. Their study concluded that with the right conditions worker-flow can go from an average of 10% to 50%. 
  3. Once you understand how to trigger and target flow, you can make it happen for even the most mundane routines. 
  4. Striving in flow (v grinding forward on sheer willpower) is the best way to move along any mastery path. 
Conclusions:
“Trust the process” (a Stoic philosophy meme)

“It all comes down to intelligently and relentlessly seeking solutions that will increase your chance of prevailing. When you do that, the score will take care of itself.”  
        Bill Walsh (San Francisco 49’ers Football Head Coach)

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