Everyone wants it and everyone talks about it, but what is it all about – and do we all mean the same thing when we say it?
To put it bluntly and simply, productivity is about the relationship between effort and result. It is not primarily about whether one person does more than the other or delivers better results than the other – although all of this can also play a role. It is simply a question of how much time and energy has been invested in the end.
“Lazy people” can be very productive. In my experience, these people like to find shortcuts and tricks to make their work as efficient as possible They are also better than others at choosing which tasks actually need to be completed. This often makes them more effective than others.
Both – effectiveness and efficiency have a positive impact on productivity. Not just diligence (alone)…
So – what exactly does it mean to improve your own productivity or that of your team?
Of course, there is no one-size-fits-all answer to this and if you want to increase productivity in a very specific team, you have to take a close look at this team and develop ideas and implementation plans together with the team.
Having said that, I would like to mention a few factors that I believe contribute to personal productivity:
- Know-how in the relevant field
- Good methodological competence of the tools and aids in use
- Time and prioritization skills
- Ability to focus and concentrate
- Motivation and energy
- Good communication skills
- Resilience
- Health
- Ability to reflect
When it comes to team productivity, I would add other factors to the above:
- Communication and cooperation in the team
- Leadership of the team
- Experience in making and leading changes
- Good arrangements (steps, interfaces, etc.)
- Trust
This list is certainly not exhaustive, but it gives a good overview and an idea of how complex both the topic and the possible approaches are.
So if you want to positively boost your productivity or that of your team, think in all directions and try to take a comprehensive approach. In small but sure steps
Good luck!