Inattention to Results — Refocusing on What Really Moves You Forward
Part 6 of 6 | Inspired by The Five Dysfunctions of a Team by Patrick Lencioni | Published by Open to Work Now
When Effort Doesn’t Equal Progress
If you’ve ever felt like you’re doing everything right in your job search — applying daily, tweaking your résumé, showing up on LinkedIn — but not actually moving forward, you’ve experienced what Patrick Lencioni calls inattention to results.
In teams, this dysfunction shows up when individuals prioritize personal recognition, comfort, or “busyness” over collective success. In a job search, it happens when you start focusing on activity instead of outcomes.
You’re putting in effort — but you’re measuring the wrong things.
It feels like progress, but it’s motion without traction.
Activity ≠ Results
Scrolling job boards, rewriting your résumé again, taking another career quiz — all can feel productive. But if they’re not bringing you closer to your next opportunity, they’re distractions disguised as effort.
Lencioni’s message is simple: healthy teams stay focused on shared results.
For job seekers, that means measuring what truly matters — not how busy you are, but whether your actions are building traction, conversations, and clarity.
Ask yourself:
Are my efforts leading to interviews or relationships?
Am I getting closer to the kind of work I actually want?
Do I know how to measure success beyond just “sent another application”?
Redefine What “Results” Mean in Your Search
Results don’t always mean a job offer tomorrow. Sometimes, they mean forward movement — a reply from a recruiter, a new networking connection, or even a stronger sense of direction.
Think of your job search as a long-term project with milestones:
Result TypeExampleWhy It MattersConnection ResultsYou reconnected with three former colleaguesNetworks open unseen opportunitiesLearning ResultsYou clarified what roles align with your strengthsBetter targeting creates better outcomesVisibility ResultsYou updated your LinkedIn headline and started posting weeklyYou attract aligned employersAction ResultsYou applied for three focused, well-matched rolesFocused effort beats scattershot activity
Progress comes from purpose-driven actions that compound over time.
When Comparison Creeps In
One of the biggest killers of focus is comparison.
Watching others land jobs while you’re still searching can easily pull you off course.
But remember: you can’t measure your journey against someone else’s results. You’re building your foundation — skills, resilience, and self-leadership that will last far beyond your next offer.
Teams that stay focused on collective goals outperform those distracted by individual agendas. The same is true for you: stay focused on your long-term growth, not just today’s scoreboard.
How to Stay Results-Focused Without Losing Yourself
Define Success Weekly.
Pick one tangible metric that represents progress — maybe it’s “number of meaningful connections” or “applications to roles that excite me.”Limit Busywork.
Before every task, ask: Is this helping me move forward or just keeping me occupied?Reflect and Adjust.
Results aren’t fixed; they evolve. Review what worked, and shift your focus based on real data, not self-criticism.Celebrate Small Wins.
Momentum builds when you acknowledge effort that moves the needle — not just final outcomes.Reconnect With Your Why.
Every action should tie back to your purpose: the kind of work, impact, or balance you’re truly seeking.
Reflection Prompt
👉 What “result” would make you feel proud next week — not because it’s perfect, but because it represents real progress toward your next role?
Takeaway
Inattention to results can make your job search feel endless — all effort, no traction.
But when you measure what truly matters, every small win becomes part of a bigger story.
You’re not just chasing a job; you’re building a new chapter of your career with clarity, intention, and purpose.
Stay focused. Stay consistent.
Your results will follow.
Series Wrap-Up:
This article completes our six-part Open to Work Now series inspired by The Five Dysfunctions of a Team.
If you’ve been following along, you’ve learned how trust, healthy conflict, commitment, accountability, and results all shape a successful job search.
Your next step: apply what you’ve learned — one small, intentional action at a time.
📄 Explore all free worksheets and resources:
👉 opentoworknow.com/free-resources
