Stop asking the wrong questions about productivity so you can finally move the needle on impactful results

I’ve been researching productivity for over 10 years, and the way I approach it has completely transformed.

As a newer manager, I used to obsess about:

❓ How can I get it all done?
❓ How can I clone myself?
❓ When will my boss see my value?
❓ How could this company survive without me?
❓ How can I get my team to follow my super-detailed SOPs?
❓ Which app will finally be able to tame the chaos I’m holding in my brain?

Instead, I ended up with a personal database of over 300 cool apps, learned over 100 productivity strategies, and gained a surprising new perspective.

As a more experienced leader, I now ask:

✅ What are the top three priorities for my company, my team, and myself?
✅ What could we say “no” or “not now” to in service of our goals?
✅ Who's at greatest risk of burnout and how can I support them?
✅ What can be eliminated, simplified, automated, or delegated?
✅ What’s the best productivity strategy for this specific case?
✅ How can I empower my team to make better decisions?
✅ Where can we reduce friction?
✅ What’s my succession plan?
✅ How are my energy levels?

Originally posted on LinkedIn