Let's Talk About Your Productivity Problem
This post was originally published on September 2, 2021, on Instagram as part of Her Growth Collective.
I hear so many women talk about their need to be more productive. Based on the numbers, odds are you have a productivity problem too.
How do you fix it?
First, do you really have a productivity problem or do you have an expectation problem? So many women are focused on time management and wanting to be more productive, but an objective observer would say they are already highly productive and are just placing unrealistic expectations on themselves.
So let’s start there. Stop reading and ask yourself, are unrealistic expectations being put on me by myself or others?
If so, you've got some inner work to do. Communities like Ambition Unboxed can be great sounding boards as you go inward.
If, after a little introspection, you are fairly certain that you really do need to up your productivity game, then let's dive in.
Here are the most effective ways I’ve seen to fix most productivity problems:
LESS IS MORE: You are likely spread too thin and doing too many things. When that happens, your effort on any one thing is diluted which can leave you feeling like you're not making progress on anything. Eliminate at least 20% of your to-do list right now. Be ruthless!
FIND CLARITY: How do you know what 20% to eliminate without clear priorities? You don’t! Spend a few days getting crystal clear on the top 2 or 3 (no more!) things that matter most to you. Equally important, which items on the list would be a relief to drop? Which ones realistically could be dropped and 95% of people wouldn’t even notice? Cut them.
IDENTIFY MOVING ACTIONS: Take your top 3 priorities and figure out what you can do that will actually move the needle forward. Do these actions need to take place in a specific order to be effective? You’ve just created a quick and dirty critical path plan. Focus on taking these actions and you’ll start to see real progress.
DE-CENTER YOURSELF: Now let’s look at everything else on the list that remains. How do we make sure they get done while removing the dependency on you? What can you delegate to a roommate, partner, your children, a services company, or a coworker/employee? What can be automated (recurring Amazon purchase, saved Instacart shopping list, automated workflow, etc.)? Where can the work be shared across a team of volunteers or family members so it takes less time away from any one person? Where do you need help, but you're reluctant to ask and receive?
Congratulations!!! You’ve just cleared a whole lot of time off your calendar. Now use that time to focus on your top 3 priorities. It's be easy now that you know what actions will move the needle in the areas you care about most.
(Now the only piece left to do is to get the woman in the mirror to follow the plan!)
It’s not always easy to stick to a plan when life gets busy, but focus on your why. If you want it badly enough… I have faith in your ability to deliver.
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This post is written in partnership with #HerGrowthCollective, encouraging women to walk the path of self-development together.