Productivity Basics
This term means using resources effectively to produce worthwhile results.
What is productivity?
According to Stephen Covey, this principle means deciding what the finished result should look like before beginning.
What is Begin With the End in Mind?
Daniel Pink identifies these three factors as important sources of motivation.
What are autonomy, mastery, and purpose?
This term means directing attention toward one task while limiting competing distractions.
What is focus?
This term means an ongoing effort to make small, evidence-based improvements.
What is continuous improvement?
This term means accomplishing work with less wasted time, effort, money, or resources.
What is efficiency?
After defining the finished result and identifying the major pieces, you should arrange those pieces in this.
What is a sensible order?
According to the Progress Principle, even these can increase motivation and engagement.
What are small advances or small wins in meaningful work?
According to the handbook, what appears to be multitasking is often actually this.
What is rapid switching between tasks?
This term describes a step that limits the speed or productivity of an entire process.
What is a bottleneck?
This term means doing the right work to achieve the desired result.
What is effectiveness?
This productivity term means the next specific step that moves a task or project forward.
What is a next action?
This term means deciding which tasks or responsibilities deserve attention first.
What is prioritization?
James Clear describes habits using these four stages.
What are cue, craving, response, and reward?
After a plan fails, the handbook says we should treat the failure as this rather than simply as a verdict.
What is information?
A student spends three hours switching tabs and checking messages while another works with focus for 45 minutes and accomplishes more. This concept explains why the first student may be busy but not productive.
What is busyness is not the same as productivity?
Eisenhower said, “Plans are worthless, but planning is everything.” What distinction was he making?
What is a plan may change, but planning forces us to think ahead and prepare?
In the Eisenhower Matrix, an important task that is not yet urgent should usually be handled this way.
What is schedule/plan it?
Your phone is out of reach, your assignment is already open, and your materials are prepared. Which habit principle are you applying?
What is designing your environment so the better action is easier?
“What happened? Why did it happen? What should we keep? What should we change?” are questions used for this process.
What is reviewing and adjusting?
A company becomes extremely efficient at producing a product nobody wants. Which productivity principle has the company ignored?
What is effectiveness before efficiency?
A team is committed to solving a customer problem but changes its product, price, and marketing strategy. Which handbook principle does this demonstrate?
What is the goal and the plan are not necessarily the same thing?
A project assigned three weeks ago is ignored until the night before it is due. What principle from the handbook does this illustrate?
What is important work neglected long enough often becomes urgent?
A student repeatedly reorganizes a desk, researches productivity systems, and changes fonts instead of beginning an assignment. According to the handbook, what is happening?
What is Resistance / preparation becoming avoidance?
Why can persistence become a weakness if it is not combined with reflection?
What is persistence without reflection can become stubbornness?