We’ve all heard that we should think big and set long-term goals, but what about all the small victories that lead to our overall success? Somehow those victories get lost and pushed aside. But when it comes to UX design and most things in life, it pays to focus more on those smaller victories than waiting for the big win at the end.
We love having something to look forward to, but when we only see the end goal, we often miss out some things along the way. With UX, we might overlook a simple change we could’ve made to make the final design even better. Sure, it’s okay now, but it could’ve been better by focusing on a smaller goal.
We Need To Experience Progress
Imagine working on a task for days, weeks or even years without really looking at the progress made. Sounds horrible right? We need to experience some sort of progress to stay motivated. Without progress, we just want to get the task done and we start to care less and less about how good the final result is.
In one study, participants who made progress had more positive emotions. They were more eager to tackle challenges and even be more supportive of team members. They also felt more motivated. Obviously, they felt the opposite when a setback occurred.
The point of the study is to focus more on the small victories to encourage those positive emotions. Instead of dwelling on setbacks, enjoy small wins to boost both mood and concentration. The end result is a better project that exceeds the long term goal versus just meeting it to get it over with.
Our Brains Love Being Rewarded
No one can argue with that statement. Our brains love being rewarded. That’s why we love hearing someone sincerely tell us “good job.” It’s motivating. We want more and more of it. It’s like this feel good drug and it’s ideal for helping us build on UX.
By focusing on small victories, we let our brains enjoy the pleasure of success. Every time we succeed at a goal, however small, our brain releases the chemical dopamine. This helps make us concentrate better and feel more motivated for the next task on our list. Better concentration and motivation are always good tools when it comes to better UX. Plus, we actually learn better when we celebrate those smaller victories. So, we not only work better, but learn better too.
Breaking Goals Up Works Best
A goal is a massive, overwhelming weight on our shoulders. For instance, imagine you wanted to lose 50 pounds. Sounds difficult and impossible, right? Now, change the goal and break it up into smaller goals. Instead of 50 pounds, set your goal to lose 5-10 pounds per month or 1-2 pounds a week. Sounds far more reasonable, doesn’t it?
We can’t just focus on the main goal when it comes to design. It’s too overwhelming and we get so focused on that one goal that we don’t do our best. When we break the main goal into smaller ones, we not only focus better, but we get to experience those victories throughout the process. It’s more fun and productive. Plus, there’s no pesky weight on our shoulders.
Small Victories Even Out Failures
Let’s face it, we are going to fail sometimes. We’re human, not robots. Actually, even robots fail sometimes. After all, not even technology is perfect. When we fail, we get discouraged and give up or just do the minimum. When those failures are interspersed with small victories, we achieve a balance. Sure, we’ll feel bad sometimes, but with each small goal we achieve, we feel better and we want those feelings again, so we keep striving to succeed.
With this approach, we’re able to build on UX instead of giving up and just going with the basics. Remember that for every failure, there are even greater achievements. If you need a little inspiration of how this works, take a look at how Gainesville, Florida has taken a different approach to rebuilding their city. Instead of giving in and going with the tried and true approach, they focused on UX and took it one step at a time to build a better city than before.
It’s always a good idea to keep the end goal in mind, but don’t forget to focus on the smaller victories. They’re the foundation of your success and of course, better UX.
Image: Tom Newby, Luke Jones, winnifredxoxo