When conversations hover around getting things done, our usual area of focus is time. Yes, we always have less time than we need. Get over it.
When we actually take the trouble of breaking down productivity –
Productivity = Working Effectiveness * Working Intensity * Time
Working effectiveness is the ability to focus on, and do, the right thing. It involves asking the right questions and focusing on things that actually move the needle.
Working intensity consists of 4 parts –
1. Physical intensity. Are you physically able enough to focus intensely for sustained periods? You can’t keep up physical intensity if you are extremely unfit, have eaten bad food, or are sleep deprived.
2. Emotional intensity. The best work is done in calm.
3. Mental intensity. Ability to focus without checking our social media or our email.
4. Tool expertise. If you are crunching huge masses of data on Excel and move around your spread sheet using the mouse you are most likely working at a speed of 0.5x. How good are you at the tools of your trade? Competent carpenters don’t work with blunt tools.
If we want to get more done in a day, let’s stop mucking around with extra hours. As you probably see, time may be directly proportional to the equation as a whole but is inversely proportional to intensity.
In reality, once we set aside must-attend meetings, we have very few productive hours in a day. We need to get intense or get out.
A Learning a Day 