Workplace productivity is a huge challenge for nearly every company, business, and organization. Leaders struggle to get their own work done (and do the right work,) while also guiding, empowering, and motivating their people to achieve maximal productivity. Although the projections vary, estimates suggest that businesses worldwide lose hundreds of millions, if not billions, of dollars annually due to underproduction.

To help my clients address this important issue, I have divided the path to increased productivity into four steps:
Plan it. Plan the process in advance to get really clear on task, process, and outcome.
Share it. Involve others in the work through meetings, communication, and delegation.
Do it. Get the work done by removing distractions and optimizing your time and energy.
Sustain it. Develop a mindset and self-care approach that ensures continuity.

Each “step” contains five action items, for a total of 20 items. In this first article of the maximal productivity series, I will address step one: plan it.

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