The Progress Principle
In our previous blog post, we discussed the Seinfeld Strategy and how it can help you beat procrastination and maintain consistency in achieving your goals. Now let’s take a closer look at another effective approach to productivity and goal attainment: the Progress Principle.
Based on ground-breaking research by Harvard Business School professor Teresa Amabile, the Progress Principle offers powerful insights into the psychology of motivation and the behaviours that drive progress. Amabile's research showed that making progress on meaningful work is one of the most powerful motivators in the workplace. In fact, her research has found that progress is even more motivating than financial incentives or other external rewards.
The Seinfeld Strategy is a perfect example of the Progress Principle in action. By creating a simple, meaningful task and focusing on maintaining a chain of consistent progress, you are more likely to stay motivated and avoid procrastination.
In addition to motivation, the Progress Principle has other benefits for workplace productivity and employee engagement. Amabile's found that progress can also lead to a sense of autonomy, mastery, and purpose: all which are key components of job satisfaction.
Aristotle is often quoted* as saying this: “We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit.”
So, how can you apply the Progress Principle to your own life and work? One approach is to break down your goals into smaller, achievable tasks that you can make progress on each day. By focusing on incremental progress, you can build momentum and stay motivated. But the key to the Progress Principle is the importance of meaningful work. When you are working on tasks that are personally meaningful or aligned with your values, you are more likely to feel a sense of purpose and engagement.
Our top tips for incorporating the Progress Principle and Seinfeld Strategy into your work/life:
Think about what you really value. What big goals could you set that align with your values? What would get you really excited if you managed to achieve it?
Take the ‘big picture’ and break it into smaller parts. What small thing could you do every day to get a little bit closer to your goal?
Think about how you’ll track your progress. Will you take Seinfeld’s approach of marking off a calendar every day you demonstrate the behaviour?
Don’t break the chain. Can you get a Seinfeld streak going?
Don’t be too hard on yourself if you do break the chain. Don’t let a bad day derail your progress. Incremental progress is still progress. Maybe a daily routine won’t work for you: find out what will.
Celebrate your wins. Managed to go for a walk every day for a week? Celebrate it! Then keep going :)
Incorporating both the Seinfeld Strategy and the Progress Principle into your daily routine can help you beat procrastination, stay motivated, and achieve your goals. By focusing on consistent progress on meaningful tasks, you can build a habit of productivity and success.
*While this quote is generally attributed to Aristotle, in reality, it was Will Durant, who summarised Aristotle’s thinking in his book The Story of Philosophy. Aristotle’s original version was much more long-winded and metaphorical, Will Durant managed to capture the sentiment but transformed the words into the pithy sound bite that still rings true today!
