My Love-Hate Relationship with Processes

I have a confession: I have a love-hate relationship with processes.

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There. I said it.

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I love results. I want the crisp final product, the organized team, the smooth-running operation. And the process road to get there? That can feel like molasses. The “hate” part of my relationship with processes shows up when they get bloated, outdated, or sacred simply because “that’s how we’ve always done it.” Nothing kills momentum faster than a process that’s more about the process than the purpose.

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On one hand, I know processes are good for me—like vegetables or flossing. On the other hand, sometimes they make me want to build something from scratch just to avoid the endless checklists, meetings, and nay-saying pessimists who insist on processes driving the action, rather than good ol' inspiration, sweat, and creativity.

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But over time—through experience, frustration, and a few last-minute deadline scrambles—I’ve come to accept something: processes, when done right, are freedom in disguise. Good processes aren’t the enemy. In fact, they’re what separate chaos from clarity. Studies show processes reduce costs, improve consistency, and increase team morale. They take the guesswork out of what’s next and give people a rhythm to follow—especially in times of stress or transition.

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What I’ve learned is this: processes need to breathe. They need to evolve with the people using them. The best systems aren’t written in stone—they’re living frameworks, flexible enough to adjust but structured enough to give direction. It’s not about loving rigid steps. It’s about respecting the repeatability that gets results.

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So I’ve found my middle ground. I try not to rebel against every checklist and to “wing it” just to feel free. But I don’t blindly follow a flowchart like a robot either. I ask better questions: Is this process still working? Is it helping us move forward? Can it be improved?

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Because when a process is working well, you don’t feel boxed in—you feel unleashed. You get to focus on doing your best work without wondering what step you missed.

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So yes, I still groan a little when someone says, “Let’s create a process.” But then I remember that without one, I’m usually less productive, not more. Because the magic doesn’t only happen outside of processes. It can happen because of them.

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And that’s something worth falling in love with.

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