Why You (Probably) Don’t Need to Be More Productive — Tripp Lanier

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Why You (Probably) Don’t Need to Be More Productive

Are you busy but still feel like you’re not doing enough?

Does it seem like it’s all on you to keep things on track?

And do you think that being more productive would solve all of these problems?

Today we explore the possibility that our desire for greater productivity may be rooted in fear and delusion.

Click here for Tripp Lanier’s book This Book Will Make You Dangerous: The Irreverent Guide for Men Who Refuse to Settle.

 

Here’s a transcript of this podcast:

 

You (Probably) Don’t Have a Productivity Problem

As a coach, I talk to a lot of guys who work hard and get a lot done. That said, it can seem like no matter what they do, it’s never really enough. Again and again, they find themselves feeling stuck or drained or overwhelmed by their situation. And again and again, many of them believe they feel the way they feel because they’re not productive enough.

Do a search, and you’ll see that there’s no shortage of productivity-related books and courses out there. Many of us are convinced that if we could just be more productive, then our experience of work would be more effective and enjoyable.

But I’m not convinced we have a productivity problem.

I believe we have a “proving” problem.

Here’s what I mean.

“No Matter What I Do, It’s Never Enough.”

Let’s imagine I’m coaching a C-level executive, and he has a laundry list of challenges he’s facing in his company.

On the outside he seems cool and calm, but on the inside he’s grinding.

“I’ve got to take care of these reports by Friday and then I have to prepare a presentation to the board the following week, but in the meantime my team just isn’t pulling their weight so it’s up to me to get this project across the finish line, like, yesterday. On top of that, it seems that one of the other teams are making moves behind my back, and…it’s just so much. I can’t see an end to this crap.”

When I ask him what he thinks will remedy this situation and put him back into a powerful, peaceful state of mind, he pauses.

“I guess I could wake up earlier? I guess I could stay a bit later, but I’m already missing out on time with my family.”

“I understand,” I say. “And tell me, who is asking you to shoulder all of this stuff? Are these your actual deliverables?”

He pauses again.

“I guess…well, not really. I mean, I set these deliverables. And, to be honest, if someone hints at wanting something, I just say ‘yes’ to it without even thinking” he says.

“Okay. So if you set these up, does that mean you could redefine what is to be delivered by whom and by when?” I ask.

He pauses again. He’s really chewing on something.

“I mean,” he says. “I guess I could, but…”

“But what?” I ask.

“I guess I could, but it just seems like I’m admitting defeat. It seems like I’m admitting that I’m a loser. Deep down I believe I should be able to handle this stuff,” he says.

“According to who? Your boss?” I ask.

“No. She’s fine. I mean, we don’t really talk about these things much. She always says I’m doing great,” he pauses.

“I think it’s me. I think I’m the problem,” he says. “I have a really hard time doing ‘just enough’ because that’s what slackers do. I feel like if I only do just enough to ‘hit the mark’ then I might be vulnerable to criticism or, you know, I make it easier to have someone else take my job.”

“So if you take it all on, if you over-deliver, if you constantly prove that you’re valuable then, what? You’ll be safe. Is that it?” I ask.

“Yeah. I never really thought about it that way, but yeah,” he says.

“And have you ever really sat down with the boss to talk about what’s truly expected? Do you have a grounded sense of your performance and position in the company or are you living in your own bubble of fear and constant self-criticism?” I ask.

“All of my assessments show that I’m going above and beyond, but it doesn’t really land for me. I’m in my own bubble. I’m constantly whipping myself and beating myself up over things that probably don’t even show up on her radar,” he says.

“Well, what if you weren’t in any real danger? What if, instead of wondering when the axe was going to fall, you could learn to challenge that voice of fear in your head? What if, instead of doing 30 extra hours of work every week in order to prove your value, you could learn how to say ’no’ without being a dick or putting your job at risk?” I ask.

Let’s pause here.

What are we taking away?

The Monster Under the Bed

Many times, when we are feeling driven into the ground by our work it’s because we’re piling it on ourselves. We’ve convinced ourselves that there’s a monster under the bed. But instead of grabbing a flashlight to take a look, we instead double down and strive to prove our value or worth in order to feel safe.

We believe it’s too ‘dangerous’ to push back. We fear saying ’no’ because we automatically assume that if we ruffle any feathers then we’ll be forced to live on the streets. Or worse — work for a cable news channel.

But there’s a tragic flaw to this strategy of proving our worth and value…

It’s not sustainable. That’s because instead of finding a strong pace, we adapt to the new level of expectations and simply pile on more. We rob ourselves of vitality and creative energy which makes us rigid, grumpy old men. We fill ourselves with toxic resentment which pushes others away. We withdraw into our bubble of delusion which kills trust.

In other words, in our effort to create more safety and certainty, we end up becoming our biggest liability.

So what can we do?

3 Steps from Proving to Productive

We can learn 3 basic steps to quit playing the victim and step into creative power…

(1) Challenge the monster under the bed. First we’ve got to challenge that voice of fear when it tries to convince us that we’re always in ‘danger’ or we’re always on the verge of disaster. “Is it really true that the sky will fall if I don’t prove to the world that I’m exceptional or deliver X by next week? Is it really true that I’m a loser or inadequate if I want more time or help?”

(2) Own what we want. Instead of playing the ‘yes man’, let’s slow down and ask ourselves, “Given that this is the situation, how do I want to respond? How do I want to address this challenge while also taking care of myself and being the father/husband/friend I want to be?”

(3) Have a skillful conversation. It’s one thing to act with integrity with ourselves, and it’s quite another to walk that talk with others. Most of the time this is where we fall short simply because we don’t want to have an uncomfortable conversation. But these conversations are simply a skill to develop. “I’d like to talk about the XYZ Project. Given the current situation, this is what we will bring in and when. What are your thoughts?”

Now here’s the deal. If you’re in a situation where (1) being honest with yourself (2) owning what you want in a way that aligns with your deeper values and (3) you can’t act accordingly within your organization — well, that’s good data. That tells us that you’ve got an opportunity to create greater alignment between your values and the work you do in the world.

(We’ll save that discussion for another time or coaching session.)

So the next time you catch yourself feeling trapped or drained or isolated or overwhelmed, I encourage you to slow down. I encourage you to work through these steps several times a day.

Here’s why…

What if There Was Nothing to Prove?

Most of the time, when we get over our need to prove anything to anyone we feel much lighter. When we engage these tiny, yet ‘dangerous’ conversations, the world says yes. I’ve seen this time and time again that when we clearly speak up for what we want — without lashing out or being a dick — we get what we want. And even if it doesn’t immediately produce rainbows and puppies, it’s far from the end of the world our primitive brains want us to believe.

This leaves us feeling energized and powerful — all without having to accomplish a mountain of tasks.

But don’t take my word for it. Try it yourself.

Start small. Pick a tiny little point of frustration and turn it into an opportunity to expand. Work through the steps above. Instead of believing the story that you’re inadequate or powerless, see if you can turn that friction into something that works in your favor.

Rinse and repeat. Day after day. This is the process that allows greater freedom, aliveness, love, and peace of mind.

Tripp

PS If you’d like to learn more about having ‘dangerous’ conversations and owning what you want without being a dick, check out This Book Will Make You Dangerous.

PPS And click here if you’d like to learn more about coaching with me.

Click here for Tripp Lanier’s book This Book Will Make You Dangerous: The Irreverent Guide for Men Who Refuse to Settle.