Too Busy to be Productive

“I’m busy, but don’t feel productive” – that is a common theme I hear from many people now days. So my attention was grabbed when I came across a report from McKinsey & Co in January this year (2022) about this very issues (you can read it here). The essence of the report is to suggest that the underlying issue is ‘the poor design and execution of collaborative interactions.’ That is, a lot of time gets wasted in our dealings with other people.

While there are more tools than ever to facilitate connecting with people, the quality of those interactions is deteriorating. As the report notes ‘indeed, most executives say they are spending way too much time on pointless interactions that drain their energy and produce information overload.’ I can relate to that.

To help us improve interactions in the workplace, the report suggests three broad categories of interactions and some tips for each. A brief summary of these are:

1. Decision making: Determining decision rights. That is, who is the best person or persons to make the decision – let them make it. By all means consult, but not everyone should be deciders.
2. Creative solutions and coordination: Open innovation. How can the organisation find innovative ways to identify and drive toward solutions? Not surprisingly, bureaucracies and micromanagement is targeted, noting ‘they slow down the organizational response to the market and customers, prevent leaders from focusing on strategic priorities, and harm employees engagement.’ The simple answer is to empower others, and then give them both the tools and the right level of guidance and involvement in a place of psychological safety.
3. Information sharing: Fit-for-purpose interactions. Meetings are not the best way for one-way information sharing – find a better way, like memos, videos or vlogs.

The report has many more ideas and suggestions on how to best achieve improved interactions within the organisation, which will improve productivity, speed and innovation. You just have to be willing to try.