Productivity Ebbs and Flows

The idea of 100% productivity 100% of the time is busted.

I think this is one of the great understandings that came during the pandemic "work from home" era. We are not limitless spigots of output that can be activated upon a simple twist of a handle.

Productivity ebbs and flows with an infinite number of variables for each individual team member. There are moments of inspiration that will allow creativity and productivity to flow easily into strategies that develop long-term success. There will be moments of immense stress in life or environment that will ebb creativity and productivity to a near standstill.

As leaders, we must accept and understand (to the best of our ability) this variance in productivity for our teams and account for it in our planning. Listen to what our teams are saying and understand that life does not allow us to be mindless, emotionless drones.

Recognizing a team members ebb in productivity and supporting them with what they need in that moment will ease them back into a flow of productivity much faster than applying pressure of demanding a flow now.

This is one of the great nuances of leadership that goes unnoticed.

If you want to read more about my concept of the ebb and flow of productivity, check out my case study about people management here.

Originally posted as a LinkedIn post at https://www.linkedin.com/in/brentmcdowell/ in November 2023.