Results first. The shift that changes everything.
Do your planning sessions start with the question: “What results do we want to achieve?”
Most organizations, even when starting with this results question, quickly move to thinking about actions: projects, programs, meetings. Leaders focus on what they will do. Most of us know that doing more does not guarantee achieving more. Yet..
Results-first thinking flips this [and costs nothing] – clearly articulate the outcome you want to achieve first, then design the actions that actually drive it.
If this seems obvious, congratulations – you are one of the very few. Most organizations spend time, energy, and money completing actions that may never move the needle on what truly matters.
The FOG between Strategy and Execution
Ever feel like the road from your strategic decisions to end results is unclear? (and than some..) That fog usually comes from focusing on actions rather than results/outcomes. To be clear:
Actions are what we do. Initiatives, programs, projects. Results are the measurable changes we achieve – in processes, products, systems, community. Counting actions is easy. Measuring results is harder. But only results tell you if your strategy is working. Here is an example:
Launching a training program. [Action]
Retaining top talent. [Result]
Who cares if you ran a training program if your top talent is not retained? Hence: if you don’t start with a clearly articulated result you increase the chances of funding meaningless actions.
Action: the activity is done (and often forgotten soon after).
Result: did your work matter? what impact did you achieve?
The next level of benefits this way of thinking and planning unlocks is – with the answer to “did your work matter?” question, leaders and teams can almost intuitively ask themselves powerful questions like: Why? How so? What’s the next step for improvement? What’s our ROI on this initiative? These are strategic questions that drive improvement – once you have accurate reports (KPIs) on the initiative being analyzed.
CLARITY starts with the Result
Vague goals produce vague actions. Words like “effective,” “enhanced,” or “collaborative” sound good, but they are unclear – hence cannot be measured. In PuMP Academy we call them “weasel words”. Teams spend time debating definitions and busywork – instead of creating impact.
Results-first thinking demands plain-language clarity: observable, measurable, unmistakable.
Instead of:
“Foster a collaborative, diversified, and engaged workplace.”
Try:
Teams consistently meet their targets without manager intervention.
Staff diversity reflects the communities we serve.
Employee engagement scores improve every quarter. *
Actions SERVE the Result, not the other way around
When results are defined first, the rest becomes simpler:
Clearly state the desired result. What does success look like?
Measure it. Design KPIs that objectively track progress (do not shop for or use benchmark KPIs).
Plan the actions. Only design initiatives that directly influence those KPIs.
This approach transforms strategy from random activity into focused impact. Every action has a purpose, resources are used wisely, and every team member knows exactly what success looks like.
The BOTTOM LINE
Results-first thinking is deceptively simple – and profoundly powerful. Define your outcomes clearly, measure them objectively, and then act.
It costs nothing to start. But the clarity, focus, and alignment you gain are transformative. Leaders who adopt this approach don’t just do more – they achieve more.
Pause and Reflect: Are your key measures tracking true results – or just completed activities? The difference may be the single most important change your organization makes this coming year.
Source: PuMP – Step 2, Mapping Measurable Results