5 Productivity Hacks That Actually Work

Welcome back to my LinkedIn newsletter where I share tips, ideas, and strategies to help you become more effective in business and life.

If we haven't been acquainted yet, I’m a professor of organizational and cross-cultural psychology, the author of Global Dexterity and Reach, and an HBR contributor and consultant. I also work closely with coaches, trainers, consultants and teachers to certify them in my Global Dexterity Method.

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In today's newsletter, I'm sharing insights about how to be at your most productive self.

We all want to be as productive as possible. But we're also human. That's why it's critical to develop productivity hacks to make the best of every single day. Here are my top 5.

1. Realize when you're not as your productive best—and have discipline to pull the plug. You start to write that report and it's just not clicking. You could try to power through, but in most cases, you'll just feel more frustrated and unproductive. And that's where pulling the plug comes in. Pivot to something else, even if it doesn't seem conventionally productive. For me, it's exercise or walking my dog. But for you, it might be something else. Find your thing and have it in your back pocket.

2. Discover where you're most productive and work there—even if it's unconventional.  One of my go to work spots is in a quiet corner of our basement. Or, strangely enough, pre-covid, I always felt creative working in hotel lobbies. But that's me. Where are you most productive? Find out what works for you (even if it's weird) and go with it.

3. Keep a catalog of your old ideas (you never know when they'll be useful again). I do this all the time, and it's been a treasure trove of innovation for me. The key, of course, is to put them in a place you can find them! You'll be surprised at how useful this will be for you over time.

4. Learn to say no (judiciously). Be smart: say yes to opportunities that help you grow and learn, help your organization move forward in a positive direction, and that put you in a position for career success. But when something comes up that doesn't hit any of these boxes, learn to say no. Or at the very least, learn to pause before immediately saying yes.

5. Schedule meetings with yourself.  We spend our days working on other people's agendas. But how about our own agendas? Schedule time every day with yourself. And whatever you do, don't bump these meetings just because something else comes up. Dedicate the time to personal learning or to whatever will help you move forward in your own career (and that you simply don't have time to do during the day to day).