Why Process Isn’t a Motto — It’s a Method

In sports—and especially in baseball—the word process gets thrown around like sunflower seeds in a dugout.

“Trust the process.”
“Follow the process.”
“Stick to the process.”

But here’s the truth most coaches won’t admit:

You cannot trust what you cannot define.
You cannot follow what you cannot see.
And you cannot deliver what you do not understand.

The word process has become so trite that it has lost its meaning. And when something loses meaning, it loses power.

Today, I want to restore that power.

WHAT A PROCESS REALLY IS

A process is a repeatable sequence of actions that leads to predictable outcomes.

A process isn’t hype.
It isn’t a slogan.
It isn’t something you “hope” works.

A real process can be taught, trained, measured, repeated, corrected and improved.

And ultimately, a real process must lead somewhere—to performance.

PERFORMANCE: THE PURPOSE OF ANY PROCESS

Performance is not talent.
Performance isn’t potential.
Performance is not “doing your best.”

Performance is practicing and playing under pressure.

Pressure is the separator.
Pressure is the test.
Pressure is where process shows up—or disappears.

If your athletes fold under pressure, it’s not because they’re weak.
It’s because their process was never real to begin with.

THE P.R.O.C.E.S.S. FRAMEWORK

A clear acronym that makes “process” concrete, teachable and deliverable.

P — Preparation
Doing the unseen work that makes the seen work possible.

R — Repetition
Training with consistency, not convenience.

O — Observation
Studying what’s happening—film, feedback, reflection.

C — Correction
Making adjustments based on what you observe.

E — Execution
Doing the right things the right way at the right time.

S — Stress Testing
Practicing under pressure, discomfort and adversity.

S — Standards
Holding yourself accountable to what you said matters.

If a coach can’t explain these seven steps, they don’t have a process—
they have a motto.

PLAN VS. PROCESS: THEY ARE NOT THE SAME

People confuse these two all the time, but they are dramatically different.

A PLAN…

• Is what you intend to do.
• Lives on paper.
• Describes where you want to go.
• Can be made in one sitting.

A PROCESS…

• Is what you actually do.
• Lives in motion.
• Describes how you get there.
• Is built through repetition and refinement.

A plan without a process is hope.
A process without a plan is movement without direction.
You need both—but you cannot substitute one for the other.

WHAT’S NOT A PROCESS (3 Examples)

1. Motivational speeches
   Inspiration is not a process.
2. Telling kids to “try harder”
   Effort without direction leads to frustration.
3. Random drills
   If you can’t explain why you’re doing a drill and how it connects to performance, it’s not part of a process—it’s activity.

WHAT IS A PROCESS (3 Examples)

1. A structured pre-game routine repeated every game
   Same sequence, same purpose, same expected outcome.
2. A weekly feedback cycle
   Athlete receives feedback → practices the correction → retests → repeats.
3. A progressive skill-development plan
   Breaking down the skill, mastering each piece and measuring growth over time.

Processes are intentional, repeatable, measurable and pressure-tested.

SAYING “PROCESS” DOESN’T MAKE IT A PROCESS

Just like saying “I’m a leader” doesn’t make you a leader.

A process requires:

• Clarity
• Structure
• Time
• Accountability
• Adjustment
• Ownership

If you can’t write it down, teach it, test it and repeat it, you don’t have a process—you have a preference.

THE END GAME: IMPACT

A good process does more than create performance.
It creates impact.

IMPACT = Change that lasts and change that spreads.

Impact is not just improvement in the athlete.
Impact is the influence the athlete has on:

• Their teammates
• Their coaches
• Their family
• Their community
• Their future

Impact is transformation that doesn’t stop with the person who received it.
Impact is legacy.
Impact is stewardship.
Impact is the fruit of a process that was real, repeatable and rooted in purpose.

THE BOTTOM LINE

Coaches:
Stop saying “trust the process” unless you can define it, teach it and deliver it.

Parents:
Ask coaches to show you the process—not the plan, not the hype, not the slogan.

Players:
Demand a process that leads you to performance under pressure.

Because in the end:

A plan points the way.
A process walks the way.
Performance proves the way.
And impact changes the world.

Remember: Intelligence tops being smart.

For more information, visit www.diamonddirectors.com today.

If you found this inspiring and thought-provoking, or if you have any questions, comments or concerns, add me on Discord and let’s go deeper.

C.J. Stewart has built a reputation as one of the leading professional hitting instructors in the country. He is a former professional baseball player in the Chicago Cubs organization and has also served as an associate scout for the Cincinnati Reds. As founder and CEO of Diamond Directors Player Development, C.J. has more than 22 years of player development experience and has built an impressive list of clients, including some of the top young prospects in baseball today. If your desire is to change your game for the better, C.J. Stewart has a proven system of development and a track record of success that can work for you.