What Is Productivity, Really? And What Does It Mean for Me (and My Team)?

For years, I believed productivity was about completing as many tasks as possible. I read about every technique I came across, tried multiple tools, and chased that perfect day when my to-do list would finally be empty. If I just organized better, planned smarter, worked harder—I would win.

What productivity means for me? The best definition I found was from David Allen, the creator of Getting Things Done:

“You have a task. You complete it.”

Simple. Direct. Actionable.

And yet… not the full picture.

The Illusion of “More”

Where I come from, for years of the old system, productivity used to mean:

"How many things can you produce in the shortest amount of time?"

Quality? Optional. Reflection? Unnecessary.

As long as the boxes were ticked, it was good enough. That mindset hasn’t disappeared. You’ll still find it in workplaces, on social media, in everyday life—people chasing quantity without questioning the value of what they’re doing.

I fell into that trap too. I joined the race. I used every app, technique, color-coded list, and digital sticky note. But although doing all that, my to-do list never ended. There was always more.

A Shift in Thinking

The real turning point came when I realized something both disappointing and liberating:

It will never all get done.

And maybe it shouldn’t.

That’s when my definition of productivity changed.

Today, productivity for me is:

Getting the RIGHT things done RIGHT.

It’s not about everything. It’s not about doing it all. It’s about asking:

• What am I really trying to achieve here?

• Why am I doing this task?

• What difference does this make—to my work, my life, my team?

For years, I thought if I just pushed harder now, I’d get to relax later. But “after” never came. So now, I slow down before I break down. I choose. I reflect. And I still don’t always get it right—but I’m getting better at getting the right things done.

What Does It Mean for My Team?

The first step is accepting that everyone has a different way of working. We all use different roads to get to the same destination. And that’s okay.

When you understand and embrace those differences, teamwork becomes easier and more fun. You start to appreciate each person’s “quirky” way of getting things done. You even learn from them.

From there, team productivity isn’t about doing everything—it’s about deciding what really matters together. What’s the mission? What are we not doing? Then, choose tools and processes that work for everyone—not just the loudest voice in the room.

I made the mistake of thinking my way was the only way. It didn’t go well. Trust me—don’t do that.

Final Thought

There is no single road to productivity. No one system. No perfect planner.

Instead, productivity starts with reflection. With clarity. With choosing what matters.

And that’s a journey worth taking.

Photo by Luis Villasmil on Unsplash