When my productivity falters, I've learned to shift out of critical inner voice to curiosity. I learned through my upbringing and the world that beating myself up was the modus operandi. For some reason that never seemed to enhance my productivity or get me out of a slump. Coaching has taught me that awareness and curiosity are my best ways to create momentum again. Now I ask myself (and my clients) what this slow down is trying to show with questions like: do I need to rest? is there a better way? do I need to ask for help? is my timing off? do I have a limiting shadow belief that's ready to shift? Like magic I'm moving again.
One pivotal lesson I've learned from a productivity failure was when I deviated from our company's core vision to pursue an enticing new product line. This venture, although promising, was a significant departure from what our company was known for, leading us down a costly path of time and resource expenditure. The fallout was a stark reminder of the importance of aligning with our foundational goals. This experience profoundly shaped my approach as a business coach. I now emphasize the importance of adhering to a company's 'North Star.' I guide leaders to not only define but relentlessly pursue their established vision, ensuring that their teams operate in synchronized efforts towards common objectives. This focus helps prevent the scattergun approach that can dilute a company's essence and consume invaluable resources without yielding the intended benefits.
I've learned that, to be truly effective and impactful, a productivity system must fit the individual like a glove. If it doesn't, then the system will, most likely, be abandoned within 3-6 months. As a coach, I help my clients design, implement, and tweak productivity systems that meet their unique personalities, lives, and work. I've also learned that a productivity system must be life-encompassing, addressing every critical domain of one's life, if individuals are to create lives of impact and significance. An excellent productivity system becomes part of the fabric of how we live and operate every single day of our lives.
Buying into the reality that I cannot be all things to all people at all times dramatically changed my productivity, impact, and my own quality of life. Accommodating as many clients as possible into a day may seem productive, but it actually fails miserably as strategy for running a sustainable business and maintaining quality of life. Optimization is key. Determining ideal work hours based on personal energy levels, building a financial forecasting model for services including appropriate pricing and ideal client load, made me a better coach, increased productivity and profits in my own coaching practice, and is one approach I teach clients to overcome their struggles with inefficiency and chart their course for success.
One productivity failure I experienced was becoming overwhelmed by my schedule and not leaving enough time for self-care. I had back-to-back speaking engagements and podcast recordings where I felt drained. My coaching was suffering as a result. Now I establish firm boundaries around my time and say no more often. I've found that when I schedule in rest periods and make my mental health a priority, I'm able to serve my clients even better. The strategies and encouragement I provide are more impactful because I'm practicing what I preach. For example, I recently turned down a handful of podcast interview requests to take a week-long vacation. I returned home feeling recharged and refocused. My next round of coaching calls was extremely productive, with several clients remarking on how inspired they felt. Protecting my own wellbeing has allowed me to improve my coaching approach by being fully present for my clients.
Failing to delegate tasks efficiently early on taught me the value of a good team. Doing all client work myself led to poor time management and subpar results. I have since built a team of experts to handle various client needs. For example, a medical issue arose last year that required my full attention. Thankfully, my team was able to properly assist clients in my absence. Without delegation, the outcome could have been quite different. Investing in skilled staff has improved how I coach clients. I now know the importance of delegating work to focus on high-level strategy. My team provides the hands-on expertise to increase client satisfaction. The productivity failure of trying to do it all myself taught me to build a support system around my business. Success comes from learning to let go.
Productive failure is critical to understanding how things work and efficiency. I learn by example and by doing so if I've not seen an example of how something is done or works, I know I have to just dive into it and get the ball rolling and see what obstacles pop up. Then, I can solve those problems without worrying about the end result because I know these steps will ultimately lead me to the best possible outcome -which is extremely efficient.
As an entrepreneur, one of my biggest productivity failures was not delegating enough early on. I insisted on controlling all parts of the business and working 15+ hour days. This led to burnout, lack of work-life balance, and slowed growth. Now, I focus on hiring smart, passionate people and giving them autonomy and trust to get work done. For example, I brought on a VP of Marketing who took over all digital marketing - within 6 months, she doubled our lead generation. Similarly, our Head of Product improved our software workflow, reducing customer complaints by over 70%. Delegating control and trusting my team has been a game changer. I now work normal hours, spend time with family, and have a clear mind to focus on high-level strategy. My advice is to hire people smarter than you, give them space to work, and get out of their way. Let go of the notion that you have to do everything yourself to be successful. Build a strong team around you, and together you'll achieve far more than you ever could solo.
One lesson I learned was being too optimistic about my team's productivity. Last year, I was excited to take on several new high-value clients within a short period. However, I did not anticipate the drop in efficiency as we scrambled to onboard them simultaneously. Productivity suffered as we struggled with conflicting priorities and stretched resources. My coaching approach had to adapt quickly. I began conducting daily check-ins, watching key performance indicators, and making data-driven decisions to avoid overload. An example was how much more effective our daily huddles and interdepartmental collaboration became by using data to delegate and reassign workload based on performance and capacity. Within a month of closer tracking and oversight, productivity rebounded, and we delivered on time. The failure highlighted the importance of balancing optimism with pragmatism. While ambition drives growth, effective management and a willingness to course-correct based on data leads to sustainable productivity and success. Continuous monitoring and adaptation have since defined my leadetship approach.
From my productivity breakdown, one thing I was able to appreciate is that it is better to aim for the short term and have a clear goal set because otherwise, the team may be overburdened with tasks. At the beginning of my career, I made the mistake of asking my team to work on several projects simultaneously, which I thought would result in enhanced productivity. However, it did the opposite, resulting in exhaustion and missed deadlines. It helped me to learn that in order to be effective, there should be a plan, and the most important items on that plan should be carried out first. Presently, in my coaching style, I seek to applaud the necessity of defining priorities, breaking the process down into small manageable stages, and not overloading the team. I encourage my team to concentrate on high-priority tasks that need to be finished first and to check how much progress has been made rather frequently. This has resulted in better results, lower levels of stress, and a more active team.
One lesson I have learned from a productivity failure is the importance of clear communication and setting realistic expectations with my team. Early on, I assumed that everyone understood the end goal without fully explaining each step, which led to delays and frustration. This experience taught me to break down tasks more clearly and check in regularly with my team. As a result, my coaching approach now emphasizes detailed planning and consistent communication, ensuring that everyone is on the same page and productivity remains high. This shift has significantly improved our efficiency and job satisfaction.
As a former legal professional, one productivity lesson I learned early on was the importance of delegation. When I first started my law firm, I tried to do everything myself which led to poor time management, high stress, and subpar results. Now with my short-term rental business, I hire seasonal staff to handle the seasonal influx of guests. Last summer when a medical emergency arose, the extra staff allowed us to properly assist the guests while still helping others. Had I not delegated then, the outcome could have been quite different. Delegating work to qualified individuals has improved my coaching approach. I now see the value in investing in good staff and am willing to spend money to increase guest satisfaction. The productivity failure of trying to do it all taught me an important business lesson. By delegating work, I can better focus on high-level tasks and provide the concierge-level service guests expect.
One productivity failure I experienced early on was not properly vetting new suppliers before engaging them to manufacture our products. We ended up with quality issues that caused delays, extra costs, and damaged relarionships. Now I insist on facility visits, reference checks, and trial runs before moving forward with any new supplier. I want to see their processes in action and understand their company culture. Even then, I start with smaller purchase orders to test the relationship. If issues arise, we work through them together rather than immediately seeking a replacement. For example, a new plastics supplier seemed perfect on paper but struggled with consistent coloring in their initial samples. Rather than dropping them outright, we investigated the problem, identified a solution, and gave them another chance. They've now been a trusted partner for over five years. Building supplier relationships through open communication and a willingness to problem-solve has strengthened my coaching approach and helped avoid costly missteps.
Chief Marketing Officer at Scott & Yanling Media Inc.
Answered 2 years ago
One lesson I learned from a productivity failure was the importance of setting clear, achievable goals. Early on, I tried to manage multiple projects at once without prioritizing tasks. This led to missed deadlines and stressed teams. To fix this, I started breaking down projects into smaller, manageable tasks and setting specific deadlines for each. I also began holding regular check-ins to ensure everyone was on track. This change made my coaching more focused, as I emphasized the need for clear goals and regular progress reviews. By learning from that failure, I improved how I guide teams, making them more efficient and aligned with project objectives.