Productivity at work: gaining in efficiency

Gaining in productivity doesn't mean always doing more, faster, at the expense of quality or well-being. True productivity, the kind that lasts, is based on the ability to do things better, with greater clarity, meaning and control. It means knowing how to prioritize, manage energy and simplify processes... but also cultivating a healthier, more aligned relationship with work.

Rethinking productivity: beyond to-do lists

The injunctions to "be productive" have never been so strong... and so vague. For many, this means overload, constant interruptions, endless meetings and a feeling of inefficiency. Rethinking productivity means getting away from this quantitative logic and regaining control over your organization, your priorities and your mental energy.

Some key practices to explore:

• Define priorities realistically, taking into account real objectives, available energy and current constraints.
• Lighten collective routines (meetings, reporting, validations, etc.) to focus on value-added subjects.
• Identify time thieves (interruptions, micro-urgencies, perfectionism, etc.) and set up safeguards.

Manage your time, but above all your energy

It's not enough to have a full agenda to be effective. True performance depends on managing attention, energy and commitment, both individually and collectively. And that's often where the problem lies.

Best practices to be anchored in the long term :

• Identify your energy peaks during the day and place the most demanding tasks on them.
• Ritualize your schedule with dedicated time slots (deep work), even in a hybrid or busy environment.
• Set up individual or group routines (breaks, breathing moments, micro-celebrations, etc.).

Empowering teams to streamline organization

Productivity cannot be based on individual efforts alone. It's a systemic issue, touching on the collective rules of the game, shared mental workloads and managerial attitudes.

Examples of concrete actions:

• Clarify roles and responsibilities within the team to avoid grey areas.
• Implement simpler, clearer ways of working together, particularly on cross-functional issues.
• Develop a culture of feedback and continuous adjustment, to avoid the accumulation of unspoken words and friction.

Relying on the right tools... without going overboard

Too many tools kill the tool. Slack, Notion, Asana, Teams... used well, these tools can increase a team's efficiency tenfold. Used improperly, they become a source of dispersion and overload. The challenge is to ensure that they are used correctly, in a way that is shared and adapted to real needs.

Some useful levers:

• Limit communication channels, and clarify their use (urgent/non-urgent, synchronous/asynchronous).
• Choose the right tools to monitor priorities, without generating over-control.
• Train teams in the intelligent use of collaborative tools, according to work rituals and modes.

Productivity training

Training teams to work better is a key to commitment and performance. But beware of overly theoretical approaches. What works are formats:

• concrete, real-life situations,
• short and rhythmic, to anchor them in everyday life,
• to develop team practices.