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The challenge we face as coaches and consultants is made easier when we
help the client separate their behavior from outcomes. The key to
maintaining effective people who are well-motivated is in the attribution
of responsibility, accountability and authority to action, outcomes and
results. You can see why, if you understand that a behavioral product is a
collaboration between person, behavior and environment [Social Learning
Theory, Bandura].
In eastern religions, there is an admonition regarding being
“attached to outcomes.” In our western culture, we have a hard time making
sense of that very helpful principle. We think we
are
what we do. Therefore, it only makes sense to us to have close attachments
to outcomes. In my view, this attribution is the silent robber of
motivation.
Here’s a simple drawing of how a personal set of behaviors is connected to
a system of behaviors through an integrated approach in the distinct
categories of action, outcomes and results in both domains of individual
and collective. This diagram maybe difficult to read in your browser, so
you can download it here:
[Another
short resource]
If you take a look at the diagram, you can see we separate the attribution
of cause and effect to separate areas of action, outcomes and results.
Each area has a different focus for responsibility, accountability and
authority. They are NOT the same!
Therefore, if we attach ourselves to something we have only minor control
over, we can be setting ourselves and others up for certain failure. Most
of the time, outcomes in a complex environment are likely to turn out
differently than we intend. However, suffice it to say that understanding
a separation in attribution to action [behavior], the outcomes generated
[behavioral products] and results [consequences of those products when
they are interfaced with the organizational triangle of affects shown in
the diagram] are critical to maintaining self-esteem, self-worth,
self-efficacy and self-image over time. This also helps us maintain high
levels of motivation to learn, grow, develop and integrate our right
action to get the right results!
While all of this is pretty complex in terms of how it all interacts, it
is simple to begin to understand why we need to look at action, outcomes
and results with some degree of separation in terms of attribution. OF
COURSE, they’re not separate in real life, because all of this is
complexly interwoven in our day to day actions, but look at it like this:
You can take responsibility for your actions, but beyond that you’re going to
need some help with outcomes and results.
In our style of coaching [COACH2], we help people to focus on their
actions. We also talk about the concept of "right action". We can become
attached to taking responsibility for right action, however it’s a real
good idea NOT to take responsibility for and be attached to outcomes. This principle states that if you do a good job with your
actions, the outcomes take care of themselves. Through alignment of the
outcomes in the environment, the results are really just responses to the
action taken.
In fact, you can usually guarantee results if you focus on two things:
your action and business reality [right action = right results]. Business
reality is MUCH more stable than what you might conclude by looking at the
stock market recently. If you study business reality, you will find an
underlying set of principles in operation. It’s pretty much a done deal to
create great results if you take action aligned with business reality.
In summary:
·
Separate the attribution you make to actions, outcomes and results
·
Don’t attach yourself to outcomes [you are
not
what you do!]
·
Identify, attach yourself to and take responsibility for right action
·
You
can attach yourself to results
if you understand the system [business reality]
·
For
you who orient from management, it’s easy to guarantee results, as long as
you have control over actions and outcomes
·
Right results is a formula: x + y = z. Take care of x and align y with
business reality and z becomes a foregone conclusion.
·
HOWEVER, if you misread business reality or are ineffective in alignment,
then you are rolling the dice with action and results.
·
For
the individual: Focus on actions taken in alignment with business reality,
learn from your outcomes and adjust your future actions accordingly.
·
Most of the time, working with a coach helps. They can help you identify
and focus on right action.
Author Mike Jay is a practicing business coach writing and coaching on
business issues relevant to "generati"--generative ideas, people, business
and organizations. He is the author of COACH2 The Bottom Line: An
Executive Guide to coaching performance, change and transformation in
organizations--http://www.coach2-the-bottom-line.com.
Mike is the founder of www.b-coach.com
Author Mike Jay is a practicing business
coach writing and coaching on business issues relevant to "generati"--generative
ideas, people, business and organizations. He is the author of
COACH2 The Bottom Line: An Executive Guide to coaching performance,
change and transformation in organizations--http://www.coach2-the-bottom-line.com.
Mike is the founder of
www.b-coach.com.
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