Say This 3x Fast: The Outcome Is Not The Outcome
An advertising friend from my early days shipped me the book, The Creative Act by the infamous music producer, Rick Rubin. It’s essentially a collection of short essays on creating "art," (however you define it for yourself) and living and growing through the source of our creativity.
One statement he wrote struck a chord: "The outcome is not the outcome."
The outcome – what "is" right now – is NOT the ultimate outcome. Life is continually unfolding, the next scene is gearing up, and new possibilities are right beyond. Remember the old Choose Your Adventure books? There is a new and different story just a page turn away.
Rick says we need to learn the practice of never assuming an experience we have is the whole story. He was making a point within a creative practice he calls Connected Detachment.
Here's what Connected Detachment looks like:
An artist creates > There is an outcome. For the sake of this message, let’s say the outcome is poor - The client hates the script. The boss rejects your proposal. The partner leaves the relationship - In any case, the outcome is not the outcome.
Yes, you may feel bad in the moment, and experience the pain and loss to whatever degree. Yet the practice is to zoom out and watch the scene like it’s a movie. Detach yourself. You are now an observer, watching the tough situation play out. Rick says when you do this connected detachment, "It’s you, but it’s not you."
The response becomes, "I wonder what is going to happen to our hero next." Just like we did in Hunger Games when Katniss Everdeen volunteered as tribute - we get to say, I wonder what will happen to her next?" - staying hopeful for a new, different, and positive outcome.
WHAT THIS MEANS FOR MANAGERS
Connected Detachment proves to be an important tool in management. As it’s the practice of never assuming an experience you have is the whole story. It's about learning to grow your skills of being objective and logical vs. micro-focused and consumed.
Connected Detachment keeps you curious, it keeps you pressing forward, it keeps you from being overly discouraged. Or in theory, it should. Try it.
The next time you have a struggle at work, a really tough situation, or maybe an impasse with a client or coworker, zoom out and observe the scene.
Ask: What might happen next? What’s a possible twist this scene might take?
We get to choose our view, and Connected Detachment asks you to choose one with imagination and possibility.
Not doing this keeps us mired in the moment. Feeling hopeless, potentially taking things personally. When we’re zoomed in, we go heads down into the problem versus laddering up to potential solutions.
Here are a few questions that will help you zoom back out:
What is the number one challenge for me here?
How do I see this differently than they do?
Might there be another way?
What other perspectives could there be here?
Consider a few thoughts:
1. Where at work could trying Connected Detachment help you clarify new or different solutions?
2. Who on your team needs to learn this practice? Identify someone who may take things too personally or who can't seem to shake off a setback and teach them this concept.
3. Copy the above 4 questions onto a Post-It and keep it where you can see it each workday. Practice asking yourself a few of them the next time you have a tough situation come up to see how it shifts your response.
About The Author
For the past two decades, Cecilia Gorman has helped advertising agencies and other creatively-minded companies fix costly communication and productivity issues by teaching managers how to become better connectors, motivators, and leaders. Cecilia is the author of Always Believe In Better, creator of the digital learning course for managers—Manager Boot Camp, and co-founder of the global training and support community for working women—Empowership.
Interested in growing your skills as a manager? Check out how Manager Boot Camp might help.