Productivity

A cheat code to unlock professional growth in 2024. The 4 Types of Professional Time: There are 4 types of professional time: 1. Management: Meetings, calls, emails, etc. 2. Creation: Writing, coding, building, preparing. 3. Consumption: Reading, listening, studying. 4. Ideation: Brainstorming, journaling, reflecting. To make improvements to your balance of time, first assess your starting point: Starting on a Monday, at the end of each weekday, color code the events from that day according to this key: • Red: Management • Green: Creation • Blue: Consumption • Yellow: Ideation At the end of the week, look at the overall mix of colors on the calendar. The image in this post is an illustrative example of how it might look. This simple exercise should give you a clear picture of your current baseline mix of professional time. With your baseline mix in mind, here are three tips for a more optimal balance: 1. Batch Management Time Create discrete blocks of time each day when you will handle major Management Time activities. 1-3 email processing blocks per day. 1-3 call and meeting blocks per day. The goal here is to avoid a schedule where the red bleeds out everywhere across every single day. We are trying to keep the Management Time windows as discrete as possible to create space for the other types of time. 2. Increase Creation Time Creation is what propels us forward, with more interesting projects and opportunities. We all need more Creation Time in our days. As you batch Management Time, carve out distinct windows for Creation Time. Block them on your calendar. Don't check your email or messages during them. Focus on creation during your Creation Time. 3. Create Space for Consumption & Ideation Time Consumption and Ideation are the forgotten types of time because we rarely create space for them, but they are critical to long-term, compounding progress. History's most successful people have all made a practice out of creating space for reading, listening, learning, and thinking. We can draw a lesson from this. To start, schedule one short block per week for Consumption and one short block per week for Ideation. Stay true to the purpose of the block. Own that before increasing the presence of these types of time in your schedule. With these three tips in mind, you're well on your way to building a more optimal balance across the four types of professional time. *** You can join 650,000+ others who receive these actionable insights in my 2x weekly newsletter here: https://lnkd.in/esGsF85Q Enjoy this? Share the post with your network and follow me Sahil Bloom for more in future!

If you can master your time, you can master your life - here's how: Mastering time isn't just about squeezing more tasks into your day. It's about making every minute count. The right techniques can: ↳ Amplify your focus ↳ Elevate your productivity ↳ Transform your workflow Let these time-tested methods guide you. You will not just work smarter, but live better. Which one is your favorite? __________________ Pomodoro Technique • Set a timer for 25 minutes of work. • Take a short 5-minute break. • After 4 cycles, take a longer 15-30 minute break. Eisenhower Matrix • Sort tasks by urgency and importance. • Do urgent and important tasks immediately. • Schedule, delegate, or delete others accordingly. ABCDE Method • Label tasks A-E by importance. • Focus on 'A' tasks first. • Delegate or eliminate 'D' and 'E' tasks. 80/20 Method • Identify tasks with the most impact. • Focus 20% of effort on these. • Expect 80% of results from them. 3-3-3 Method • Dedicate 3 hours to deep work. • Complete 3 shorter tasks. • Address 3 maintenance tasks. 2 Minute Rule • If a task takes < 2 minutes, do it now. • Larger tasks get scheduled or delegated. • Keeps small tasks from piling up. Eat the Frog • Start your day with the most challenging task. • Gain momentum and a sense of achievement early. • Makes subsequent tasks feel easier in comparison. Getting Things Done (GTD) • Capture all tasks. • Clarify and organize into lists. • Reflect and engage with action. Kanban Board • Visualize tasks in 'To Do', 'Doing', 'Done'. • Move tasks along as progress is made. • Optimizes flow and prioritization. Task Batching • Group similar tasks together. • Work on these in dedicated time blocks. • Increases focus and efficiency. Warren Buffet 5/25 Rule • List 25 important tasks. • Pick the top 5 to focus on. • Avoid the rest until top 5 are complete. Time Blocking • Dedicate blocks for specific tasks. • Include breaks and varied task types. • Ensures dedicated focus times. 1-3-5 Method • Choose 1 big, 3 medium, and 5 small tasks. • Prioritize this manageable daily task load. • Ensures a balanced workload. MSCW Method • Categorize tasks by necessity for project success. • Must-haves are critical, nice-to-haves are less so. • Defer won't-haves to future phases. Pickle Jar Method • Fit in major tasks first. • Slot in smaller tasks around them. • Regularly adjust and reassess priorities. __________________ 👇 Want a PDF of my top infographics? 👇 ▶️ Go Here: https://lnkd.in/g2xbnwhp Please repost to help others out there! ♻️

Busyness doesn't equal productivity. Master the Eisenhower Matrix to achieve more and stress less. 🎯 By categorizing tasks into 4 quadrants: ➟ Important-Urgent (Do), ➟ Important-Not Urgent (Schedule), ➟ Not Important-Urgent (Delegate), ➟ and Not Important-Not Urgent (Delete) —it empowers you to focus on what truly matters. Let me break it down. — 1. Do: Urgent and Important Tasks with deadlines or consequences. Examples: • Responding to a client crisis. • Meeting a crucial project deadline. • Fixing a critical system error. Tips: • Do these first thing (eat the frog). • Prevent distractions (put your phone on Airplane Mode or Do Not Disturb). — 2. Schedule: Important but Not Urgent Tasks with unclear deadlines that contribute to long-term success. Examples: • Planning your business strategy. • Investing in personal development. • Building key relationships. Tips: • Time-block these in your calendar. • Only schedule it if it's truly important to you. Otherwise, say no. — 3. Delegate: Urgent but Not Important Tasks that must get done but don't require your specific skill set. Examples: • Answering most emails. • Handling routine administrative tasks. • Plowing the snow from your driveway. Tips: • Identify tasks others can do 80% as well as you. • Give clear instructions when delegating. • Follow up, but don't micromanage. — 4. Delete: Neither Urgent Nor Important Distractions and unnecessary tasks. Examples: • Attending meetings with no clear agenda. • Watching TV indiscriminately. • Engaging in office gossip. Tips: • Identify time-wasters in your day. Set limits. • Ask yourself if it adds value to your life. If not, cut it out. — The Eisenhower Matrix is a powerful tool for getting valuable stuff done. You'll separate the trivial many from the vital few. 📌 Want to receive a high-res PDF of this one-pager?    1. Follow Ben Meer  2. ♻️ Repost to help your network  3. Subscribe to my free newsletter: https://lnkd.in/ewnjDzas   Follow the steps above, and I'll send you this and 10+ of my best infographics for free.

Let me fix your 1:1 meetings in 90 seconds. It only requires two changes: - Make it their meeting, not yours - Ask questions, don't give directions Here's how to do it: 1. Make It Their Meeting Relinquishing ownership of this meeting is the same as delegating any other work. - Define what excellent looks like - Hold them accountable - Coach to success - Don't step in But how do I get what I need to lead? That's part 2... 2. Good Questions >> Great Directions The easiest way to align on expectations is to preview the questions you want them to answer. If they can answer these well, you can have confidence that they are excellently managing their area (even individual contributors). Here are mine: ✅ How are you doing? Want people to produce outsized results? You need to care personally. You'll only know when to show up for them if you know them well. Get a tepid response? Ask again. ✅ What's most important for us to focus on? If it is their meeting, they set the agenda. Not only are you empowering them, but you also get to learn how they think. This will help you anticipate what they might miss. ✅ How are you tracking against your goals? I want data. Clear metrics. The more tangible, the better. If the goal isn't easily measured, then I want a few qualitative angles that are in tension to surface the truth. Don't be afraid to ask, "What is your confidence?" ✅ Are there notable Wins/Losses to discuss? The specific Win or Loss doesn't matter to me as much as: a) Can they separate big from small? b) Are they proactively sharing? My probing questions should uncover very little. ✅ What problems are you focused on solving? I don't expect perfection if we're driving hard and creating value. Instead, I want them to have command of their area. - Do they know the problems? - Do the solutions make sense? - Are they making good progress? ✅ How are your people doing? Your people are only as good as those that support them. Even individual contributors rely on others. Help them practice sizing up those around them. Make empathy a habit. ✅ How are you getting better? When your team is filled with curious and compounding professionals, the result is a team that's agile and resilient. To get there, you must coach those who coach others. ✅ How can I support your success? Hopefully, you've done this throughout the conversation, but it never hurts to ask them directly, "What else do you need to win?" - Remove obstacles. - Provide resources. - Repeat often. If you want access to the management dashboard template I used to delegate my 1:1 meetings, subscribe to my MGMT Playbook for free access. https://lnkd.in/eAA-CJrJ You get dozens of playbooks and templates for critical management moments. It's the advice your boss should be giving you but probably isn't. P.S. Repost to share this with your network ♻️. And follow Dave Kline for more great posts.

Why Staying Disciplined Outweighs Staying Motivated In the journey toward achieving our goals, motivation often gets the spotlight. It's the spark that ignites our initial enthusiasm, the burst of energy that gets us started. But what happens when that spark fades? This is where discipline – the less glamorous, but infinitely more powerful force – takes center stage. Discipline vs. Motivation: Motivation is fleeting; it's based on emotions that can fluctuate daily. Discipline, on the other hand, is about commitment. It's the structured approach to making progress, regardless of how we feel. The Power of Habit: Discipline transforms actions into habits. While motivation can kickstart a routine, discipline cements it into our daily lives, making excellence not an act, but a habit. Consistency Leads to Results: The magic of discipline lies in its ability to help us maintain consistency. Achievements are not the result of sporadic efforts fueled by momentary inspiration but of consistent action, day in and day out. Building Resilience: Discipline builds resilience. It teaches us to push through adversity, to keep going when motivation has long left the building. This resilience is what separates the successful from the rest. How to Cultivate Discipline: Set Clear Goals: Know exactly what you're working toward. Establish Routines: Create a daily structure that aligns with your goals. Monitor Progress: Keep track of your actions and outcomes. Stay Accountable: Find a mentor, coach, or community that supports your journey. Reward Progress: Celebrate the small wins to maintain momentum. In conclusion, while motivation is the spark, discipline is the fuel that keeps the fire burning. Let's shift our focus from seeking perpetual motivation to cultivating unwavering discipline. Here's to achieving our goals through the power of disciplined action! 🌟📘 Please follow Varun Anand - PfMP/PMP/ CSM /PMI-ACP/CAPM #Discipline #SuccessMindset #AchievementThroughDiscipline #GoalSetting #PersonalDevelopment

My lessons in time management from running a 2-person company with >30 corporate clients: It was only when I started my first company that I TRULY understood the importance of time management. I was running sales, product design, customer support, marketing and finance. If I didn’t get things done each day, our company did not move forward. Good time management helped me achieve our goals and stay sane (most of the time). The research supports this too - according to a Stanford University report, good time management makes you more likely to achieve your goals and have lower stress levels. Here is my simple formula for WHAT, WHEN and HOW to get the important things done: First, deciding WHAT to work on… You need a system for prioritizing. You will always have more tasks than you can do.  I like these three frameworks because they are simple: 1/ 80 / 20 Rule 2/ ABCDE Method 3/ Eisenhower Matrix You only need one. Try one for a week, and if it doesn’t work, try another. I do a version of 80/20 where I look at my life and ask myself: “In 1 month’s time, what are the 1-3 things that I will regret not making progress on?” This could be getting a new job or improving relationships with your partner or friends. It means some things will fall by the wayside (e.g., life admin), and your life may be unbalanced for a while. That imbalance is 1) not permanent and 2) the price to pay for achieving your goals. Now, WHEN to work… I recommend doing these 3 things: 1/ Identify and use your most productive hours effectively ↳ This means if you have a 9-5 job and are a morning person and you want to change job, you should get up 1-2 hours earlier and use that time to work on your dream.  ↳ Yes it sucks. But less than doing your current job forever :). 2/ Work in time blocks ↳ 2-hours for each block is ideal. ↳ Context switching kills your concentration and energy. 3/ Batch together similar tasks ↳ Try to do all your calls in one batch and all your small tasks in another, etc. Then finally my take on HOW to work effectively: 1/ Break work into 25-min sprints.  ↳ Leave the timer in front of you to create urgency and pull you back when you get distracted. 2/ Give yourself a goal for each sprint.  ↳ Again helps to create urgency. 3/ Use caffeine  ↳ Matcha for me. Yerba mate tea is also great! Try to avoid within 10 hours of bedtime. 4/ Keep your phone away from you ↳ And use app blockers on your computer. 5/ Get good quality, consistent sleep ↳ Good sleep -> good focus. 6/ Reflect and review ↳ Write down what worked and what didn’t and repeat! If you ask an 80-year-old what they would give for more time, their answer is everything. Don’t let yours fly by. P.S. What is your top tip for mastering your time? --- ♻️ Repost this to help your network become top performers. 📌 Want a high-resolution PDF of this? 1. Just follow me Will McTighe 2. Sign up for my free Level Up Community at lnkd.in/gKzZUq-b

🧠 If AI agents can do 80% of your job... What exactly is your job title now? That question stayed with me. Because this isn’t just about automation anymore. It’s about identity. Over the last 20 years, I’ve helped companies unlock value with AI. But this moment feels different. AI agents aren’t just helping us work faster — they’re starting to own the work: → Drafting strategies → Leading meetings → Making financial decisions → Even hiring contractors and reallocating budgets And they’re learning — fast. Every prompt. Every project. Every outcome. I’m no stranger to transformation. But this shift is so fundamental, it’s rewriting job descriptions before we even have time to update LinkedIn. 📊 What’s happening now: 80% of knowledge workers already use AI to complete tasks AI agents now execute end-to-end workflows with limited oversight Companies report up to 500% productivity gains Entry-level roles in consulting, finance, and project management are vanishing Titles like Junior Analyst or PMO Coordinator may not survive 2026 In IRREPLACEABLE, we describe this as the human shift. But how we navigate it matters. 📚 And now, we have data to back it up. A groundbreaking new study from Stanford University introduces the WORKBank, surveying: → 1,500 workers → 104 occupations → 844 tasks → Alongside 52 AI experts Here’s what it found: ✅ 46% of workers want AI to take over repetitive, low-value tasks 🟥 But many don’t want AI in areas requiring judgment or human interaction 🟨 Critical mismatches exist between what workers want and what AI can do 🧭 A new Human Agency Scale (HAS) helps define how much control humans want to retain over tasks 📈 The biggest shift? From information skills → interpersonal skills This isn’t just a tech upgrade. It’s a realignment of the core competencies that define our value at work. ✅ To stay ahead, I’m doubling down on: Human-AI collaboration fluency Strategic thinking that AI can’t replicate Ethical oversight and empathy Becoming the bridge between human vision and agent execution 💥 So let me ask you: If an AI agent does 80% of your tasks… What’s your role now? Coach? Strategist? Orchestrator? Or something entirely new? 👇 Let’s debate. How are you preparing? #AI #FutureOfWork #AIagents #WorkplaceTransformation #JobTitles #Automation #IRREPLACEABLE#Stanford #WORKBank #HumanAgency #AIleadership

This is the sneakiest trap entrepreneurs fall into: (I've personally fallen into this one multiple times) It's called: Optimizing the Useless Elon was once asked: "what's the biggest mistake engineers make?" He said: "Optimizing that which shouldn't exist." Now, if you find it really easy to fall into this trap (like me), then here's a simple framework that we used to build our first 8-figure business that I think you'll find useful. It's called D.O.W.N.T.I.M.E. This framework (borrowed from Lean Manufacturing) is all about learning to identify and eliminate WASTE within your business. Here's how to use this acronym to optimize your business: 1. DEFECTS If you don't have time to do something right, then when will you ever have the time to fix it? Defective products are a margin killer. Defects costs material, time, energy, morale, customer satisfaction, reputation, and more... 2. OVERPROCESSING Determine the customer's expectation of quality. Exceed it by ~15%. Diminishing returns kick in beyond this point. Want to increase quality? Increase price and your customer's corresponding expectation. Want to decrease quality? Decrease price. 3. WAITING Teams become increasing inefficient as they grow. People waste large amounts of time waiting for somebody in some other department to complete a task before they can move forward. Combat this by creating "simultaneous" (not "sequential") processes whenever possible. 4. Non-Used Employee Genius Your people are your most valuable resource. Treat them as such. Make sure they're not only sitting on the right seat, but that you're tapping into their unique genius (whatever that may be). 5. TRANSPORTATION The excessive movement of a "product" or "material" through a process. When moving things through a facility, straight lines are your friend. When moving things through a work cell, the "u" is your friend. 6. INVENTORY Necessary evil, especially in a world with next day delivery expectations. We're a "just in time" manufacturer, so balancing "enough" inventory with "too much" is one of the hardest problems we've had to solve for. 7. MOTION The excessive movement of yourself through a process. Example: Walking 10 steps to get the hammer 10 times per day. 10 x 10 x 280 (working days /year) = 28,000 steps 2,000 steps/mile 28,000/2,000 = 14 miles /year Move the tool. 8. Excess Production This gets turned into Inventory, but it's the unintended result of a process exceeding demand. Don't get this one figured out and you'll drown in inventory. This concept of D.O.W.N.T.I.M.E. works in ANY business, but it all comes down to culture. Training new employees in this concept is the most important thing we do. Why? Because once you know how to identify waste, you start to see it everywhere... Even in areas you know nothing about (like me in manufacturing). And once you control for DOWNTIME... your UPSIDE is practically unlimited.

Marie Kondo is a Japanese organizing consultant and author of the best-selling book “The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up”. She has a simple philosophy: keep only what sparks joy and discard the rest. But what if we apply this principle not only to our physical space, but also to our mental space? What if we could Marie Kondo our mind? "Simplify your space, systematize your work, streamline your schedule. Marie Kondo your mind." That’s the mantra I live by every day. Why? Because clutter is the enemy of productivity, creativity, and happiness. Clutter can be physical, mental, or digital. It can distract you, overwhelm you, and drain you. But there’s a way to fight back. How? By following these steps: 1. Simplify your space. • A cluttered environment can lead to a cluttered mind. • Research shows that physical clutter can increase stress, reduce focus, and impair creativity. • To simplify your space, follow Marie Kondo’s advice: sort your belongings into categories, keep only what sparks joy, and store them neatly. • You’ll feel more calm, productive, and inspired. 2. Systematize your work. • A chaotic workflow can lead to a chaotic mind. • Research shows that multitasking can reduce productivity, lower IQ, and damage brain cells. • To systematize your work, follow these steps: prioritize your tasks, batch similar ones together, eliminate distractions, and focus on one thing at a time. • You’ll get more done, faster, and better. 3. Streamline your schedule. • A hectic schedule can lead to a hectic mind. • Research shows that overcommitment can cause burnout, anxiety, and depression. • To streamline your schedule, follow these tips: set boundaries, say no to unimportant requests, delegate or outsource tasks that are not your strengths, and carve out time for yourself. • You’ll have more energy, happiness, and balance. These are the principles that have helped me transform my life and business. They can help you too. Don’t let clutter get in the way of your success and happiness. Simplify your space, systematize your work, streamline your schedule. Marie Kondo your mind. You’ll thank me later.

🛠️ Measuring Developer Productivity: It’s Complex but Crucial! 🚀 Measuring software developer productivity is one of the toughest challenges. It's a task that requires more than just traditional metrics. I remember when my organization was buried in metrics like lines of code, velocity points, and code reviews. I quickly realized these didn’t provide the full picture. 📉 Lines of code, velocity points, and code reviews? They offer a snapshot but not the complete story. More code doesn’t mean better code, and velocity points can be misleading. Holistic focus is essential: As companies become more software-centric, it’s vital to measure productivity accurately to deploy talent effectively. 🔍 System Level: Deployment frequency and customer satisfaction show how well the system performs. A 25% increase in deployment frequency often correlates with faster feature delivery and higher customer satisfaction. 👥 Team Level: Collaboration metrics like code-review timing and team velocity matter. Reducing code review time by 20% led to faster releases and better teamwork. 🧑💻 Individual Level: Personal performance, well-being, and satisfaction are key. Happy developers are productive developers. Tracking well-being resulted in a 30% productivity boost. By adopting to this holistic approach transformed our organization. I didn’t just track output but also collaboration and individual well-being. The result? A 40% boost in team efficiency and a notable rise in product quality! 🌟 🚪 The takeaway? Measuring developer productivity is complex, but by focusing on system, team, and individual levels, we can create an environment where everyone thrives. Curious about how to implement these insights in your team? Drop a comment or connect with me! Let’s discuss how we can drive productivity together. 🤝 #SoftwareDevelopment #Productivity #TechLeadership #TeamEfficiency #DeveloperMetrics