Productivity Reimagined

Preface

People by nature want to be productive. The urge to work towards something that matters is the force that gets us up in the morning, keeps us going despite obstacles, and compels us to do better than we did last time. When we see the impact of our productivity, it gives us the pride and satisfaction that we’ve made the world a little bit better.

Companies want their people to be productive as well. Engaged, productive workforces enable companies to overcome barriers and constantly get better at what they do. Productivity growth allows companies to deliver their products and services faster, cheaper, and better; provide better jobs; and contribute to the betterment of their surrounding communities.

There’s a disconnect, however, between people’s productive inclinations and what actually happens in most companies.

Most people grasp this intuitively. The feeling is that even if they derive considerable enjoyment from their chosen line of work, they are stymied by all the “other stuff” they have to deal with.

The “other stuff” isn’t just necessary drudgery like filling out expense reports. It’s also the adversarial relationships, fear of speaking out, poor coordination, lack of support, and having to do things just to please the boss.

Disengagement is widespread. In the US, according to Gallup, only 30% of employees reported they were engaged in their work in 2023. Furthermore, 17% reported that they are actively disengaged.¹

This disconnect causes companies to be much ...