“Moving Beyond Outcome Goals to Process Goal Setting”

Most athletes already know how to set outcome goals. Setting only outcome goals like "winning", however, will not change behavior, because outcomes are not completely within our control. Process goals keep your focus on things that you are more able to directly impact and/or control.

1. Start With an Outcome

Choose an upcoming competition and pick a challenging but not impossible Outcome goal (win, place, get a certain score or time, etc…).

2. Moving From Outcome to Process

How do you maximize your chances of achieving that goal? 

For example, I will be relaxed at the starting lone; I will hold my pace and race my own race, even if the pack goes out fast, and; I will maintain good technique in the second half of the race.

3. Practicing the Process in Training

What can you do in training between now and your race/event to maximize your chances of achieving your three competition process goals? 

For example, if your race/event process goal is to take a risk with your pacing, you might focus on race/event simulation in training,when you only have one chance to take the risk without the opportunity for second.

4. Become an Enforcer
When does goal setting fail? When you don’t do it! You figured out how to maximize your outcome at an upcoming competition, so how do you make sure you start to change your behavior today?

For example. your reward could be a coffee from Starbucks and your punishment could be having to wake up at 5:30 AM to run a mile.