The real productivity order

Productivity is the most beloved and hated word in the business scene. At least, for me.

When thinking about productivity, we usually think about productivity hacks — in other words: how to squeeze more things into the same amount of time.

Guilty of that.

But the real productivity cascade is simpler:

1. Eliminate
2. Automate
3. Delegate

I-N T-H-A-T O-R-D-E-R.

But we always do it backwards, trying to delegate something that could be automated or even should be eliminated.

Important issues won’t go away even if you try to eliminate them. But shallow, unproductive tasks will persist when delegated or automated.

Try the “eliminating things first” approach. Life will get easier.