Time management is a waste of time
Go for Energy Management Instead
A better way to optimize your productivity
Everyone knows that doing things we suck at drains our energy, but we’re finally getting the memo that we can be capable and proficient at other tasks and these can zap our energy too. This is the core of the energy paradigm of time management and it's the only real way to maximize our productivity in a sustainable way.
If I had a dollar for every time I rolled my eyes at an organization that assumed they could scale their output if they could just get their workforce to be more efficient in their transactional activities… Newsflash: humans are not machines, so we don't work like that.
Enter the energy paradigm of productivity optimization. There are various models; each goes something like this:
Figure out the kinds of things that charge you and the kinds of things that deplete you
Do more things that charge you
Do fewer things that deplete you
Some models to try
Skills cross (a human centered version of the impact/effort matrix)
I couldn’t find a good source online so I made one. Grab it here.
Try some Alphabet work, proposed by Vanessa Van Edwards, founder of Science of People.
Cole Nakatani at Hydralabs runs workshops for teams looking to balance resources and mitigate burnout. If you have a team and the budget do one of his workshops.
Parting thoughts
I think we can all agree that these concepts are sensible if not plainly obvious. But the reality is that implementing what we discover may be another matter. Especially on complex teams. I’d coach you to start small: pick a nugget of wisdom that you discover through the process and that you have the agency to implement on your own. Give it a go. Celebrate small wins and use the extra stored energy to empower others on your team to do the same.
Want some help with this?
Gimme a shout and we can have a brainstorm session!
TL;DR
Rather than obsessing over the clock, turn your attention inward to experiment with ways to optimize your personal energy. Intentionally discarding the activities that drain you dry will empower you to maximize productivity, creativity, and overall well-being.