System Evaluation

When we use the systems and habits approach to improvement, we often build out new habits over months and even years. The goal is to build recurring behavior patterns that drive us to success.

This means that consistency is key. We must make sure we follow the steps in the same way for long enough for it to start to feel automatic.

To do this, we need to focus on doing it the same. As the habit builds, it becomes more natural to do.

While this is the point of the process, it also presents a problem. If we aren’t careful, we can easily turn this new positive habit into a rigid mindset that controls us.

Therefore, we should also find ways to remain flexible. It could be to change up a routine when it starts to get stale. It could be to remain open to new possibilities. It could be to build modular and varying systems. As we learn new information, we should be able to look at our systems and find ways to improve them.

One of the key elements of the systems and habits approach to improvement is to measure as much as possible. Most people want to measure the outcome. They want to know how much weight they lost or how much money they made from an investment.

But we should measure more than the outcome. We have to measure the process. It could be to measure and track how many pushups we did or how much money we invested each month in our retirement account.

By measuring the process steps and the outcome, we can see when things need to be changed. If the outcome changes this gives us more information.

If the outcome diminishes, we then look at the process measurements. Have we been doing what we need to do? Have we slowed down, sped up or ignored it?

If the process has been consistent but the outcome is off, the way to fix that is different than if the process has been off.

If we have been slipping and the process measurement shows us that we were slacking or getting distracted, we want to refocus on the process. We want to build it to be even more habitual.

If the process hasn’t changed but the outcomes changed, then we need to look at what we need to do to improve the steps we are taking.

In other words, if the outcome got worse and the process changed, refocus, and get back to the routines. If the process stayed the same, but the outcome is lacking, look at changing your approach. It might just take a few slight tweaks, but it is better to identify them now and make the pivots than keep going with a faulty routine.

The key to doing this right is to be patient. If we rush it, we won’t give the behaviors time to solidify. We need that time to be able to see what the benchmarks are and then measure against those.

Systematic evaluation is a crucial component of the systems and habits approach to improvement. It requires consistency and flexibility. It requires measurement and analysis.

The systems and habits approach to improvement is a great way to keep improving throughout life. It requires a different mindset, one that is always looking for ways to get better while taking the necessary steps in order to grow.