Is Your Passion for Productivity Hurting Your Career?


Confession: Im a productivity junkie. I love the more with less mindset. There isnt a time management technique I havent tried.

But, as a career coach, Ive seen many cases in which passion for productivity has actually been a hindrance to career success

What do I mean? Well, being productive is obviously a good thing. We all need to get stuff done. But an over-emphasis on doing can sometimes cause performance problems in the professional world.


To help you understand what I mean and figure out if your passion for productivity is harming your career, take a look at the statements below. Do any ring true for you? If so, it may be time to focus on doing lessand thinking more.
  • Youre dividing your attention.
    Multitasking sounds great in theory but it doesnt really work. When we attempt to split our attention between tasks, oneor bothwill inevitably suffer.

    When we multitask at work, we end up making mistakes that ultimately have to be repaired. Its a time suck and its also a poor representation of your capabilities. Multitasking can also be downright rude. People feel disrespected because youre not giving themor the workits due attention.

    The real skill to hone in the workplace is concentration. Improve your ability to focus on the task at hand and then smoothly transition that concentration wholly to the next task. Avoid the temptations of multitasking and learn to engage fully in t! he momen t.

  • Youre rushed.
    The go, go, go mantra of corporate America keeps most professionals in a permanent state of urgency. With an ever-growing to-do list, they feel compelled to constantly rush through their work and get to the next thing. In the process, careless errors happen. This mentality also contributes to huge amounts of stress, which can end up damaging your professional relationships and reputation even further.

    Never sacrifice accuracy and good work for speed. Moving quickly is not the sign of productivity. The faster you move, the more potential there is for trouble. Slowdown. Pace yourself. Be intentional in your actions.

  • Youre focusing on quantity over quality.
    All too often, productivity junkies get into a mindset of more is better. The more time you put in, the more successful youll be. The more you do, the more youll achieve. However, this isnt always the case.

    Productivity is not about doing everything. Its about doing the right things well. Its
    not about working all the time; its about using your work time wisely.

    Its far better to complete just a few important items on your checklist rather than tons of unimportant ones. Its better to work really productively for a shorter period of time than semi-productively for a longer period of time. In the workplace, its always smart to focus on quality over quantity.

  • Youre doing too much.
    Productivity junkies like me are notorious for biting off more than we can chew. But systems and time management techniques wont help you if you cant help yourself. Say no once in a while. Set limits. Establish realistic expectations. Stop accepting more and more work just because you want to prove that youre productive. We get it.

    Ive seen it time and again: Taking on too much inevitably leads to anxiety, stress, missed deadlines, and m! istakes. Its a sure-fire way to perpetuate the negative productivity cycle. Break out of it. Use your passion for productivity in the workplace for good, not evil. Get it under control so it doesnt accidentally drag your career down as it has for others.
Written on 8/24/2011 by Chrissy Scivicque. Chrissy is a career coach and the founder of EatYourCareer.com. She helps professionals develop strategies and take meaningful action toward achieving career goals. Pick up a copy of Chrissys FREE career workbook to find out just how nourishing your career really is and how you can make it even more so.Photo Credit: orcmid




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