The Gift of Process

This month in honor of the US time of giving thanks, a season when we reflect on the things we are grateful for, I want to go a little deeper and explore the gift of process. It may seem odd, but I am actually thankful for ‘process’. In my life and leadership, healthy processes and systems have accelerated my success. So this month, as we give thanks, let's explore why process is a gift, and also talk about some of the processes we should add to our list. 

Simplifies The Complicated 

At the beginning of 2021, I invited a neuroscientist to talk to a group of ladies about the neuroscience of goal setting. One of the things we learned is that the brain does not multitask; it simply switches tasks. We also learned that goals are best achieved when we break them down into small bite-sized pieces. The same holds true for complex tasks - need to ensure that you stay on track with your 20-page strategic plan or lose 30 pounds? Those big goals are more likely to be achieved when we break them down into smaller tasks or processes to support them. 

This past March, I dedicated a whole month to implementing and documenting several complex processes in my business. As a result, I was able to onboard and have a new team member up and working in a matter of hours. Something that seemed complicated the month before, was an absolute breeze. A feat that would not have been possible without implementing new processes. So want to simplify the complicated? Add process. 

We Can Do More With Less

Process also allows you to do more with less. In fact, 57% of companies out there use automation in some capacity within their business, which not only helps with productivity and innovation, but also provides an overall transformation within the business itself (and how it operates).

If you are an entrepreneur, use processes to run your business with stealth and efficiency. Adding systems or processes will increase your capacity to focus on the strategic work that only you can do. Take marketing as an example -  something so many of us do not enjoy doing in our business and may even avoid - but when you put automation in place in your marketing strategies, not only do you have a more effective and efficient strategy, you also reduce the workload that you have to manually accomplish. Automation would not be possible inside the marketing industry had it not been for the processes that help put that automation in effect in the first place. 

Leadership Processes 

Having a plan, aligning your team, holding them accountable is often the difference between success and failure. There are so many processes that we will need to put in place as leaders. However, I believe there are three core areas that rise to the surface in leadership. We explore them in-depth in The Tribe Advantage: Strategic planning, managing performance, and rewarding and connecting with people. If you don’t have key processes in place to manage all of the above, I encourage you to set a goal for yourself to examine what might work best for you and implement them in 2022.  

Life Processes 

So let's shift over to our personal processes that can help us lead a more fulfilling life. Here are a few: (1) Self-care. Self-care means different things to each of us. However, having some structured ways of caring for our mental, physical and emotional health is critical, especially if you have family or lead others. (2) I am a bit biased but having a process for building and keeping our tribes/relationships healthy is also essential. We will fail to thrive without a connection, so being intentional about investing and building tribes' matters. (3) Last but not least, a process of practicing gratefulness can be a game-changer. Our brains are hardwired to protect us. As a result, every day, we process negative to positive thoughts at a rate of 4:1. When we engage in processes that refocus our brains on the positive, we alter our chemical balance and keep us healthier. 

Are you ready to unwrap the gift of process? As we prepare to close the door on 2021, I hope that you have already identified a few processes that will make your life and the lives of those you lead better in 2022. As painful as it can be, process is often a gift that gives and keeps giving. Let's give ourselves the gift of process in 2022. What are you ready to unwrap?

Want to learn more about the three leadership processes mentioned in this blog, head over to www.thetribeadvantage.com, take the leadership quiz, and join the waitlist for our next program. 

Meet The Author

Leah JM Dean is a leadership strategist, tribe formation expert, certified strengths coach, best-selling author, facilitator, speaker, and founder of the women’s leadership program, the Tribe Advantage. She is on a mission to help women and organizations all across the globe transform their tribes in life and leadership. To learn more about Leah's work, her best-selling book Assemble the Tribe, or join The Tribe Advantage Leadership Program, visit www.leahjmdean.com. Leah lives in Bermuda with her husband and two children.