“If you are aboard a ship with chronic leaks, the energy destined for the lifeboats is likely to be more productive than the energy devoted to closing the leaks,” Warren Buffett said. The investment genius knows very well that our time and attention are precious resources, so it is important to use them intelligently to be more productive and effective.
In fact, did you know that most people recognize that they devote 40% of their time to unimportant or absolutely irrelevant activities? However, many don't know exactly how they are wasting their time.
The key is in self-knowledge, knowing what our strengths and weaknesses are will allow us to give our best with minimal effort. Therefore, it is important to know your productivity style.
Production styles
Productivity psychologist Carson Tate defined three productivity styles based on her empirical experience which, in turn, is based on how people learn, communicate and make decisions.
- Prioritizer
In this style of productivity, logic and analysis predominate. It is a person who takes a critical, analytical and realistic attitude. Try to find facts and data on which to make decisions and prioritize activities.
To be more efficient, this person will calculate the time it takes to complete certain tasks and plan the day. In practice, its approach is similar to that of a laser beam: it focuses on a target, without dispersing. His communication is similar: short and direct, focused on solving problems.
Its strength lies in its ability to identify the important details. Usually, this person organizes the work so well before starting that, once at work, he does not need to waste time and energy thinking about how to complete the tasks, because he simply follows the set plan.
The weak point? This person is usually too controlling, rigid and competitive. He often has difficulty handling unexpected events and can get stuck in making decisions when he doesn't have all the necessary information available.
- Planner
At first glance, this style of productivity is similar to that of the prioritizer, but in reality the planner goes even deeper into the details of the project he has to accomplish. While the prioritizer focuses only on the essential aspects to complete the project quickly and accurately, the planner analyzes every detail, even the most irrelevant.
A prioritizer will feel good at the end of the day if they have finished the most important tasks, a planner must complete as many tasks as possible because they focus more on the amount of work, without discriminating on the basis of relevance.
The planner stands out for his organized, sequential, planned and detailed thinking. He is a person who not only plans the trip, accommodation, attractions and restaurants, but also looks for the best transport price and calculates the time that will be dedicated to each activity by planning every detail of the day.
He establishes excellent action plans and follows them. Its communication is the same: very detailed and precise, always including the contractual clauses.
The weak point? He is a non-spontaneous person, who can miss opportunities due to his resistance to deviate from established plans.
- Viewer
This style of productivity is diametrically opposed to the others. The viewer has holistic, intuitive, integrative and synthesizing thinking. He is often an innovative and creative person who works best under pressure and often brings positive changes wherever he goes.
Usually, this person does not plan for the long term, has a general idea of the projects and sets out to test his ideas, so he is progressively evaluating the possibilities in the course of work. He focuses on more general concepts and usually juggles several projects that he follows at the same time, otherwise he gets bored easily.
His communication often reflects the holistic view, so he usually talks about big projects and combines different concepts, integrating them in a new perspective that generates new opportunities.
The weak point? He has a tendency to overlook details and his excessive spontaneity and impulsiveness can play tricks on him, causing him to make miscalculations.
