The 4 Types of Productivity
It’s the golden word that businesses and their leaders strive for everyday. One that has huge payoffs but is not so easy to achieve. I am talking about productivity. In other words, what does your activity produce? Today the pursuit of productivity is hot topic #1. And so our news feeds are filled with videos, articles and inspirational quotes trying to inspire or equip us to do more. Get more out of yourself, your team and your organization.
The problem I find is that often these materials are filled with general, overarching principles for discipline and it becomes an exercise in strength of will. While these can have some level of success, they pay little attention to self-awareness and the unique differences of people. We all have our own patterns of thought, personality preference, strengths and challenges that affect where our productivity sweet spot will be. To give a simple illustration, not every type of motorized vehicle utilizes the same kind of gas.
Typically, the train of thought for many people is that more activity will produce more. I would like to suggest that is not true. We all know that one teammate who works long hours and creates tons of spreadsheets, or a team that had so many focus groups, only with little to show for it. Remember my little definition of productivity? What does your activity produce?
When I was in university, I had the opportunity to do a student exchange in Japan. During my business classes I was shocked to find that Japan had such low productivity. In fact in 2018, Japan recorded the lowest labor productivity among G7 countries. This was strange to me because I perceived the Japanese culture as being so hard-working. However, hard-working does not necessarily mean productive. What does your activity produce? In my journey to become more productive, I have learned that we can expend so much energy in areas that are not our best. This is where self-awareness comes.
Taking a personality diagnostic or having a thought journal are great ways to start finding your productivity sweet spot. However, I have also created a simple model I call the Productivity Scale to help you identify some strategies for advancing in this area. You can check it out below:
As you can see, there are 2 planes. The vertical one is your task scope. In other words, the scale and complexity of the activities you take on. Meanwhile, the horizontal plane shows the quantity of tasks you can manage. Among these 2 planes we find 4 types of productivity. Below I have included some descriptions of each as well as strategies for helping you be your best. I encourage you to find where you lie on the scale and try some of the strategies outlined to advance in your productivity!
1. The Machine
This type is characterized by high effectiveness in both large and many projects or tasks. One might classify this individual as being highly productive. Chances are if you lie in this spectrum you have some level of self-awareness and have invested into yourself with mentorship, leadership training, and have a proven process for reaching your goals. However, it is also possible that there may be some unhealthy patterns of behavior present here such as perfectionism, sacrificing relationships, and using work to avoid dealing with other life problems.
How to be your best: The key in this area lies in being able to prioritize well, and I don’t mean your work tasks or goals. I am talking about life priorities. If you are highly productive that’s great! The aim is that this level is sustainable in your life and that it doesn’t come at the expense of things like your family or health. Taking some time to personally reflect on your values will go leaps and bounds. What are you passionate about? What is your vision for the work you do? Sometimes we can get so caught up in the day to day tasks that we forget these things. Try writing a personal mission statement. Also make sure to set aside and even schedule personal time and time with your family. Finally, learn the activities and relationships that really help you recharge well, and invest into them.
2. The Marathon Runner
Someone in this area is great at taking on large and complex tasks. They can methodically work through each stage of a large project and see it to completion. People in this spectrum probably have a good level of patience and attention to detail. They may also prefer predictability and slower, relaxed work pace. However, they may struggle with taking on many tasks at once and feel overwhelmed.
How to be your best: If you have trouble taking on many tasks, there are a few things you can do to help and develop this area. The first is to find a good task management/ to do list software. Any kind of tool that can help you organize multiple tasks more effectively so you don’t need to spend as much brain power on it. Another thing that will help is having a good morning routine when you get into work. When you arrive, take time to get in your zone whether that be grabbing your coffee or playing some light music. Go over your tasks and prioritize which are the most important. Finally, focus on being more present and don’t let your mind get too far ahead of you. Simply look at what needs to get done next. How can I do the most with the next hour? Then when that hour has past, what is up for the next hour? This process of setting micro-goals will help you stay grounded in the middle of many tasks and also help you feel more satisfied from what you are accomplishing.
3. The Multitasker
Like the name implies, this productivity type is great at taking on many projects at once. They thrive on the excitement from starting something new and their mind can jump from task to task easily. They also probably enjoy a fast pace at work. However, they may fall into the trap of being someone who is good at starting something but can’t finish. This could be due to impatience or boredom. Also it’s possible they may use up time on certain activities when their energy could be better used somewhere else.
How to be your best: In this area it’s important to practice patience and keep realistic expectations for your projects. Some larger ones may take significantly longer than you are comfortable with. This is where it becomes crucial to envision the long-term benefits. Also before taking on or starting a new project, practice asking yourself some questions like:
- Is this the best use of my time?
- Is there someone else who could do this?
- Is there another project I have been putting off finishing?
- What is the best decision for now, and for later?
4. Low Productivity
This one is pretty straight forward. People in this place struggle with being consistently productive overall. Notice how I did not have a nickname for this section? This is because there are a number of issues that could be causing low productivity. Many would assume laziness, which is possible. However, there are many other things that could contribute to this like: poor organizational skills, trouble managing your emotions, poor health, lack of sleep etc.
How to be your best: Your best bet in this area is to take some time for self assessment. Try to identify what your road blocks are. A journal would be really good in this situation to identify what kinds of things you are feeling on your least productive days. Also, seeking out the help of a mentor or coach could be very beneficial. They can be a sounding board for you, and identify any blind spots you may have. Finally, simply establishing a good morning and night routine will be a great practical step towards higher productivity for you.
So there you have it. The 4 kinds of productivity and some great tips for each to be your best. Sometimes making personal change can seem overwhelming but the key is to focus on 1 thing you can start doing differently now to see a positive change. I hope you found this article helpful.
For those leaders who are serious about growth and making a positive impact in their spheres and would like some help with that, you can reach out to Michael Walker for a complimentary 45minute coaching conversation. You can reach Coach Mike at michael@capstonecoaching.ca We look forward to helping you achieve your desired success!
