The Simple Formula for Boosting Your Productivity
Use these three steps to get more done in less time
The reason that boosting productivity is so important is over the last few years, productivity has fallen. Many employees are disengaged, and this leads to lower productivity. Even the most diligent of workers get distracted. Our attention span has fallen to a record low of around eight seconds. Furthermore, I have read this is less than a goldfish! However, I have created a simple formula for boosting productivity.
Productivity involves inspiration rather than perspiration
The idea for my formula was sparked when reading a recent article in the Australian where Dan Andrews, an economist said,
‘Productivity is about inspiration as opposed to perspiration.’
Inspiration is a feeling of enthusiasm you get from someone or something that gives you new and creative ideas. This is a critical point. It is a feeling. We are feeling creatures and operate much of the time by how we feel. As everything in life is energy, your energy will be high and even contagious when you feel inspired.
Find a compelling reason that drives you to do what you are doing
The first step to boost productivity is to have a reason for why you want to do the task or the project that you’re working on. Many people go to work in jobs they don’t really enjoy. This means they are not engaged. It then becomes difficult to feel inspired or motivated to do what is necessary, which in turn affects productivity.
Poor productivity growth, despite advances in technologies, has been diminishing since the 2000s. A recent report by Forbes said the current workplace disengages 70 percent of employees. Disengagement in the workforce is at an all-time low. The key is when you’re productive, you’re usually in flow. And when you’re in flow, you're more likely to live a life with meaning and purpose. As leaders are the ones who inspire and need to engage others, much of the discussion around productivity needs to centre on leadership.
‘Nothing is less productive than to make more efficient what should not be done at all.’ Peter Drucker
To help you boost your productivity, here is my simple formula.
Productivity = E + D x T
E is for Energy
If inspiration drives productivity, the starting point is to manage your energy, your state. How you feel is a critical ingredient of determining what you do. When you aren’t feeling motivated or inspired it’s hard to be productive. Managing your state, how you feel is possibly more important than managing your time. The reason I put it at the beginning of the equation. Discovering your mission, your purpose will help you see the way forward. The questions to ask are:
‘Why am I doing what I’m doing? And what do I need to do to feel good about it?’
D is Duration
Specifically, how much time will or can you allocate to the task? When you consider how long you have available for the task and how long you need, you are consciously taking charge of your focus in relation to time. Otherwise, it’s easy to sit at your desk and feel you are working. Whether you are effective or not. With no attention or intention in these areas, your time and energy will both whittle away. Track your time and decide how long you will spend on the task at hand.
When you track your tasks, it will better equip you to measure your productivity.
The last part is T for Task
The Task is the specific thing you want to work on. Sometimes you might only have a small amount of time available. It’s helpful to look at the specific tasks and determine which one fits into the time available. Next, how are your energy levels? Have you had a long mentally challenging day or are you just starting out? What does the task involve in the level of thinking and cognition? What needs to be done here? Is it interesting but not important, or is it important even though it’s not interesting? Is it the best use of your time right now?
When you consider these questions, you have a much better chance of getting the right things done.
Tick off each task and celebrate each small win to increase your sense of achievement
Two extra suggestions include:
- Time the task you are doing. By timing yourself, you focus the energy of the mind, which is attention towards a specific endpoint. This helps you stay on track and stick to the task at hand. Otherwise, you may succumb to the dreadful virus of distraction or procrastination. And this is common as we have an attention span of around eight seconds. A killer of productivity. Therefore, we need all the help we can to stick to the task at hand.
- Tick off each task when complete and celebrate each win as you go. This simple strategy will help you build both inspiration and gain momentum. Small wins signal the brain to release serotonin, which helps you feel good.
Ultimately, remember you are a human. You will act according to how you feel most of the time. Your brain loves distractions. Neither of these are helpful for consistent productivity. So use the formula above and if all else fails, take a quick break to renew your energy. Give yourself the gift of a break and return feeling energised and ready to get going again.
About Mandy
Mandy Napier is a Global High-Performance Mindset Coach who helps her clients get unstuck. Breakthrough their current blocks, step into their potential and achieve extraordinary results personally and professionally. Transformations are the norm and results guaranteed.
