Gentle Productivity’s Mysteries

How can you learn to go through many phases of development?

Productivity is a metric that expresses the efficiency with which products or services are produced. Productivity is frequently stated as a ratio of aggregate output to a single input or an aggregate input utilized in a manufacturing process, i.e. output per unit of input, usually over a particular time period. There are many alternative definitions of productivity (including some that aren’t specified as output-to-input ratios), and which one to use is determined by the aim of the productivity assessment and/or the availability of data. Productivity is a critical component in a company’s or a country’s ability to produce goods. More real money enhances people’s capacity to acquire goods and services, enjoy leisure, improve housing and education, and contribute to social and environmental initiatives, therefore increasing national production can raise living standards. Increased productivity can also help firms become more lucrative.

What Is the Importance of Productivity?

Increases in output may only be attributed to more inputs or more efficient utilization of those inputs in the manufacturing process. A ratio of outputs produced to inputs utilized in manufacturing is the basic formula for determining productivity.

We may improve production without increasing inputs and incurring these expenses by boosting productivity. An economy’s productivity grows when it is able to produce — and consume — more products and services for the same amount of effort. The goal of productivity measurement is to identify ways to generate more units of output (goods produced or services provided) per unit of input (materials, labor hours, machine time) than your rivals. There are many distinct types of production processes, and each of these production processes has unique inputs that vary from one to the next. As a result, while all kinds of production follow the same fundamental formula, the productivity formula for each differs. You’ll spend the majority of your time putting out flames if you don’t know how to manage your time or properly scope projects. This is a step-by-step procedure, and we’ll be best served if we concentrate on mastery at each stage.

Different stages of productivity

Have you ever thought that the reason you’re worried and short on time is that you try to do too much at once? We all have days that seem to fly by, and we know we were busy at the end of them, but we can’t quite define what we achieved. That’s what I’ve come to call “stage one” productivity. For some of us, many days pass in this manner. Others consider it to be a way of life.

1. You’re Always Reacting

When you’re in stage one of productivity, you’re virtually always reacting. And being reactive doesn’t always mean you’re not productive, because it means you’re interacting with other people in your life, which we all have to do from time to time: attending meetings, responding to emails, returning phone calls, putting out fires, and so on. In fact, it’s possible that being reactive is your job. For example, if you are a manager and your only responsibilities are to be there for your workers, keep them on track, ensure they meet deadlines, deal with interpersonal difficulties, and so on, I would say your job is to be there for them reactive. However, if you have even one obligation that isn’t dependant on your employees, at least one item for which you are solely accountable and there are aspects of it that other people can’t perform for you, you must make time to be proactive in order to do that task. As a result, I’ve reached the second level of productivity.

2. Proactive

Stage two is dedicating time to becoming proactive on a daily basis. You’re crossing items off your to-do list, and you experience a sense of achievement at the end of each workday…a sensation that you actually accomplished something. This is a fantastic location. If you’re having trouble getting to stage two, my advice is to quit your habit of reading your email first thing in the morning, which I’m willing to bet you have. If you check your email first thing every morning when you go to work, it sets the tone for the rest of the day to be reactive. It leads you down the rabbit hole of replying to emails and individuals…You’re reading blogs, monitoring your Twitter feed, checking your Facebook alerts before you realize it… Then you’re off to a meeting, then to lunch, and when you get back, it’s back to email, and the cycle begins all over again. Instead of reading your email first thing in the morning, break the loop by heading to your to-do list. Check your email after working for an hour or ninety minutes checking tasks off your to-do list. Even if the rest of the day was spent reacting, the outcome will be a sense of achievement at the end of the day. You’ll be able to show off some tangible accomplishments from that day.

3. Important Findings

However, for many people, there are likely items on their to-do list that must be completed and may even be essential, but accomplishing them will have little influence on their professional or personal lives. Many of these are unlikely to bring you any closer to your long-term objectives. This leads me to the third level of productivity: not only crossing items off your to-do list, but also doing tasks that get you closer to your objectives. These are what I refer to as “significant outcomes.”

When you do one or more goal-dependent tasks in a day, you are in stage three of productivity. Things that will help you achieve your key objectives or efforts. It’s akin to what Brian Tracy refers to as “eating that frog.” My advice for achieving stage three productivity is to have your “big picture” goals in front of you at all times. This is accomplished using my “projects” list. I must be able to lift my head out of the “trees” and view the “forest” at all times. This is made easier for me by keeping a “projects” list. To keep a project going ahead, you must have at least one thing you can do next.

4. Observation

Those who are familiar with my habit-forming advice will remember this one. Learning to detect overwhelm is a vital element of moving over it. Take a deep breath and assess the situation if you feel overwhelmed. There will be no judging or rigging. You’re only beginning to notice how you’re feeling.

5. Consistent

Consistent activity leads to the highest level of gentle productivity, which is called Being. When you reach this point, you are naturally tuned in to the rhythms of your day/week and have accepted the concept of energy management. You can see the triggers coming up ahead of time and dodge the time traps before they happen.

Transparency is an important component in keeping your team on track. Your goal as a team leader is to assist your colleagues in doing effectively as fast as feasible. To accomplish so, you’ll need to adjust your strategy at each stage. These levels are not sequential, and even if you reach stage 5 at some point, you may find yourself sliding back and landing at different stages. The key is to gently nudge oneself ahead and returning to the path of kindness. You will no longer be pursuing productivity before you realize it.
You will become a productive person who is aware of it.

Choosing Your Own Path

These ideas are part of the Empowered Productivity System methodology. It’s crucial to remember that being in stage one and stage two productivity is useful at times, but when you spend time in stage productivity, you’re truly empowered and creating your life with intention.

Thank you for taking the time to read this!