Tips for Working Smarter

Most productivity hacks are useless - Here's what actually moves the needle: The usual advice is too abstract. "Work smarter."  "Prioritize."  "Don't multitask." That's not useful. The people who get more done don't have more hours. They've made small, specific shifts in how they work. The 7 productivity shifts that will free up your time: 1. Start with priorities, not email ↳Why: Email puts you on everyone else's agenda ↳Instead: Write your 3 top priorities first ↳Example: Open the Notes app, list 3 to-dos for today 2. Time-block deep work ↳Why: Context switching kills focus ↳Instead: Schedule distraction-free blocks ↳Example: Slack and email off for 2 hours 3. Shrink meetings by default ↳Why: Meetings expand to fill the slot ↳Instead: Default to 15 minutes with an agenda ↳Example: "Quick sync — 3 bullets only" 4. Close the loop faster ↳Why: Unanswered tasks linger in your brain ↳Instead: Reply or delegate right away ↳Example: "Got it - sending by Thursday" 5. Take breaks on purpose ↳Why: Energy drops make you slower ↳Instead: Recharge every 90 minutes ↳Example: 5 min walk after 90 min work 6. Write decisions, don't just talk ↳Why: Verbal agreements vanish ↳Instead: Document next steps + deadlines ↳Example: End meeting with action notes 7. Pick a shutdown time ↳Why: Boundaries create urgency and rest ↳Instead: Choose a daily stop time ↳Example: Laptop closed at 6:30 pm Productivity isn't about squeezing more in. It's about making smarter shifts in how you work. Which one would make the biggest difference for you this week? --- ♻️ Share this to help others work smarter. And follow me George Stern for more.

They told me "just work harder." But the work kept piling up. Years ago, I was drowning. Endless task lists. Constant context-switching. #Projects that never seemed to finish. Then I discovered something that changed everything: 𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙥𝙧𝙤𝙗𝙡𝙚𝙢 𝙬𝙖𝙨𝙣'𝙩 𝙢𝙮 𝙚𝙛𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙩. 𝙄𝙩 𝙬𝙖𝙨 𝙢𝙮 𝙨𝙮𝙨𝙩𝙚𝙢. Here are the 10 principles that transformed how I work and gave me back 12 hours per week while doubling our output. → Make your work visible (if it's invisible, it's unmanageable) → Define what "done" actually means (no more guessing) → Break massive projects into bite-sized pieces → Automate the soul-crushing repetitive stuff → Expose blockers before they explode → Put meetings on a timer (yes, really) → Actually learn from what went wrong → Stop juggling 47 things at once → Say "NO" without guilt → Ship fast, learn faster The result?? Well, my team went from constantly missing deadlines to delivering consistently. Stress dropped. Quality improved. And we finally had time to think strategically instead of just react. The truth is you don't need to work more hours. 𝙔𝙤𝙪 𝙣𝙚𝙚𝙙 𝙗𝙚𝙩𝙩𝙚𝙧 𝙥𝙧𝙞𝙣𝙘𝙞𝙥𝙡𝙚𝙨. Before you log off for the weekend: working smarter isn't about grinding harder. It's about creating systems that let you breathe. You've earned your Friday. Enjoy it. 📍What's one task management principle that completely changed your workflow? Drop it in the comments, I'd love to learn from you too. Follow Benjamina for practical perspectives on #projectexecution, #leadership judgment, and #delivery under real constraints.

How I Work Smarter, Not Harder as a Program Manager at Amazon Let me be blunt: I’m not trying to win the “busiest PM” contest. I’m trying to win the outcomes game. You can sprint for 12 hours a day. Or…you can actually build systems that do the work for you. Here’s how I work smarter…not harder: 1/ I ruthlessly protect my calendar ↳ If it’s not tied to a decision, outcome, or relationship…it’s gone ↳ Busy ≠ impact 2/ I make delegation part of the plan ↳ “You own this thread. Here’s the goal. Let me know when it’s unblocked.” ↳ Control is addictive. Let it go. 3/ I build playbooks, not one-offs ↳ Every repeatable task becomes a template or SOP ↳ Scale your brain once…then reuse it 4/ I only escalate with receipts ↳ “Here’s the risk, here’s what we’ve tried, here’s the decision I need” ↳ Context cuts chaos in half 5/ I optimize for clarity, not perfection ↳ Most blockers come from confusion…not complexity ↳ Clarity moves projects. Ego slows them down. The truth is: no one cares how many hours you grind. They care if you deliver what matters. What’s your definition of working smarter? ➕ I write for PMs who are done chasing busy…and ready to lead with leverage: https://lnkd.in/e6qAwEFc

“Most productivity advice is anti-thinking.” And that’s a big problem if your job is to think for a living. As a research analyst, I don’t get paid to tick tasks off a list. I get paid to ask the right questions, make connections others miss, and build clarity from chaos. But here’s what most productivity content tells you: 📍Block every hour. 📍Answer emails faster. 📍Finish that 20-slide deck in 2 hours. 📍Clear your to-do list by Friday. It sounds efficient. But it also squeezes out the most important part of research work: unstructured time to think. Some of my best insights came from: 🧠 Stepping away from the problem. 🧩 Reading something outside the brief. 🗺️ Mapping ideas on paper without a clear outcome in mind. Thinking isn’t a distraction. It is the work. If you’re in a role that demands insight, research, consulting, strategy, policy, then be careful of adopting advice built for output-maximization, not idea-generation. What helped me most wasn’t getting faster at delivery. It was getting more comfortable with ambiguity, and learning to sit with a messy idea until it took shape. ✨ You can’t rush breakthroughs. But you can make space for them. #ResearchAnalyst #Consulting #ProductivityMyths #CriticalThinking #WorkSmarter #ResearchWork #CareerAdvice #DeepWork #ThinkingTime #StrategicThinking

I used to believe that working harder was the key to success. More hours, more hustle, more grind. But here's the truth, solopreneurs: Working harder is a myth. If you're struggling to break through the $50k annual revenue mark, it's time to shift your mindset. You need to work smarter. Here's how: Automate Routine Tasks → Stop spending hours on tasks that can be automated. ↳ Tools like Zapier and Trello can handle repetitive tasks. Free up your time for strategic thinking and client interaction. Focus on HighImpact Activities → Not all tasks are created equal. ↳ Identify the 20% of activities that generate 80% of your results. Prioritize those. Leverage Data and Analytics → Make decisions based on data, not guesswork. ↳ Use Google Analytics, CRM systems, and sales data to guide your strategy. Track what's working and what's not. Streamline Your Sales Process → Create a clear, repeatable sales process. ↳ Use CRMs like HubSpot to keep track of leads and followups. Make it easy for clients to say yes. Outsource When Necessary → You don't have to do everything yourself. ↳ Hire freelancers for tasks that are outside your expertise or that consume too much time. Focus on what you do best. Set Clear Boundaries and Goals → Avoid burnout by setting work hours and sticking to them. ↳ Define your business goals clearly. Break them into actionable steps and tackle them one by one. Remember, it's not about working more hours; it's about making the hours you work count. Stop the endless grind and start working smarter. What strategies have you found helpful in working smarter? Let's share and grow together.

It's that time of the year - feeling like you have to catch up! Customer support can feel like an endless juggling act—new requests coming in, follow-ups piling up, and pending projects. Add in random urgent issues to keep you on your toes, and it can feel impossible to make progress. Over the years, I’ve learned a few strategies that help support teams (and myself) not just stay afloat but be successful: 𝟭. 𝗙𝗼𝗰𝘂𝘀 𝗼𝗻 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗺𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗺𝗼𝘀𝘁 Not everything needs your immediate attention. Identify what has the biggest impact—whether it’s a customer issue, an internal deliverable, or a key process improvement. Use prioritization frameworks or tools to cut through the noise and focus your energy where it counts. 𝟮. 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗸 𝘀𝗺𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗲𝗿, 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗱𝗲𝗿 Avoid switching between reactive and proactive work. Instead, block time to focus on one thing at a time, whether it’s resolving high-impact issues or moving a project forward. This helps reduce burnout and improves the quality of your work. Put it on your calendar if it helps! 𝟯. 𝗘𝗺𝗽𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗺 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘀𝗲𝗹𝗳 No single person can manage it all, and they shouldn’t have to. Equip your team with clear ownership of tasks, and trust them to manage their responsibilities. Create a culture of ownership and autonomy, not micromanagement. 𝟰. 𝗕𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻𝗰𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵 𝗿𝗼𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀 Establishing regular rhythms—daily stand-ups, weekly planning, or structured project reviews—can help everyone stay aligned and focused. When everyone knows what to expect, it reduces mental load and eliminates unnecessary guesswork. And if you don't manage anyone - take the lead. 𝟱. 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗹𝘆 When you’re managing competing priorities, make it visible. Set up shared tools like project boards to track progress and align expectations. A clear view of what’s in progress, what’s on hold, and what’s coming next ensures everyone is on the same page. 𝟲. 𝗟𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝘁𝗼𝗼𝗹𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱 𝘆𝗼𝘂 Repetitive tasks can drain your team’s time and energy. Lean into automation to handle things like recurring workflows or basic customer interactions. Don't overcomplicate it either. Start small with things like Slack reminders and organizing your calendar in blocks. 𝟳. 𝗣𝗮𝘂𝘀𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗿𝗲𝗳𝗹𝗲𝗰𝘁 When the workload feels overwhelming, take a step back to assess. Don't get tunnel vision. Are you spending time on the right things? Are there ways to streamline your approach? Whether or you work in customer support or manage a team it is always a balancing act, but with the right habits, tools, and mindset, you can turn the daily grind into meaningful progress. What strategies have helped you and your team balance immediate needs with long-term goals? 

6 Tips For Smart Work 1) Complete tasks in batches: This way, you'll be focused on one task at a time. Be proactive and schedule parts of your day for repetitive tasks. 2) Block your calendar: Carving out time in your day to dedicate to work keeps you organized and limits distractions. Be mindful of how you schedule your day and any possible distractions that could come your way. 3) Start tracking your time: Spend a few days tracking your time with apps like Time Doctor, this will help you see what apps you need to silence notifications from and stay away from while working. There might also be a pattern in your distractions — like when you're trying to work through lunch — that might motivate you to adapt your schedule. Once you see patterns in your time, you can try substituting other good habits. 4) Schedule tasks based on your energy levels: Figuring out when you're the most productive and energized to work is an effective way to work smarter. Forcing yourself to work when your brain is tired won't produce good work. It'll only make you dread your tasks even more. 5) Keep your to-do list manageable: Try to prioritize no more than five tasks that you need to complete. Anything after that is a bonus. This way, you'll finish your day satisfied that you've finished all your important tasks. Plus, making your to-do list more manageable allows you to slow down and be more purposeful with your work. At the beginning of each week, look at what’s coming up and make a plan. Schedule important tasks that require more effort and thinking in your most productive hours each day. Save the less demanding routine tasks for the rest of the day. Your prioritized tasks will receive your best energy. 6) Take breaks: Your attention span wears out after focusing for too long, so make sure you schedule downtime in your workday. During your breaks, make sure you get up to stretch, drink water, and have a snack. Experiment with different breaking techniques until you find what works for you, like the Pomodoro technique — 25 minutes of work followed by a five-minute break. Regardless of how long you pause, you're doing your performance and well-being a favor.

Everyone wants to be productive, but most people confuse being busy with getting things done. The secret? It’s not about working more—𝐢𝐭’𝐬 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐬𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐞𝐫. Here are five ways to boost your productivity without burning out. 1. 𝐔𝐬𝐞 𝐓𝐨𝐨𝐥𝐬 𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐤 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐘𝐨𝐮 Not every productivity tool will fit your workflow. Find the ones that simplify tasks instead of adding more to your plate. Whether it’s Notion for organizing ideas, Google Calendar for scheduling, or automation tools to handle repetitive work, let tech do the heavy lifting. 2. 𝐓𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐁𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐤𝐬 (𝐘𝐞𝐬, 𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲!) The brain works in cycles, not marathons. Research shows that working in 90-minute intervals with short breaks keeps you sharp. Try the Pomodoro technique—25 minutes of deep work followed by a 5-minute break—to stay focused without exhaustion. 3. 𝐏𝐫𝐢𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐳𝐞 𝐑𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐥𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐥𝐲 𝐍𝐨𝐭 𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐭𝐚𝐬𝐤𝐬 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐞𝐪𝐮𝐚𝐥. 𝐔𝐬𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐄𝐢𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐡𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫 𝐌𝐚𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐱: 𝐔𝐫𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐭 & 𝐈𝐦𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐭: 𝐃𝐨 𝐢𝐭 𝐧𝐨𝐰. 𝐈𝐦𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐍𝐨𝐭 𝐔𝐫𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐭: 𝐒𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐝𝐮𝐥𝐞 𝐢𝐭. 𝐔𝐫𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐍𝐨𝐭 𝐈𝐦𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐭: 𝐃𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐠𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐢𝐭. 𝐍𝐞𝐢𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐔𝐫𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐧𝐨𝐫 𝐈𝐦𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐭: 𝐃𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐭𝐞 𝐢𝐭. 𝐅𝐨𝐜𝐮𝐬 𝐨𝐧 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐥𝐲 𝐦𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐧𝐞𝐞𝐝𝐥𝐞. 4. 𝐒𝐭𝐨𝐩 𝐌𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐬𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 Switching between tasks makes you slower, not faster. Instead, time-block your day—set dedicated hours for deep work, meetings, and admin tasks. Turn off notifications, put your phone away, and watch how much more you get done. 5. 𝐎𝐩𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐢𝐳𝐞 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐤𝐬𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐞 A cluttered space leads to a cluttered mind. Keep your desk clean, invest in a good chair, and add a plant for a mood boost. If you work remotely, set up a distraction-free zone to create a mental boundary between work and home life. Productivity isn’t about doing more—𝐢𝐭’𝐬 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐝𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐦𝐨𝐬𝐭. #LinkedInInsiderIndia #LinkedInNewsIndia

"If I just work a few more hours..." "Maybe I should skip lunch today..." "I'll sleep when I'm done..." Sound familiar? These were the thoughts running through my client's head before burnout hit. 🚩 As a high achiever, they fell into the classic trap: Measuring their value by hours worked, not impact made. Here's what I tell my overwhelmed clients 👇 1. Energy Management > Time Management 🔋 • Your peak hours are worth 5x your tired hours • Block your best 2 hours for critical thinking • Save admin work for energy dips 2. Strategic Laziness Wins 🎯 • Automate repeated tasks • Template common responses • Build systems, not to-do lists • Ask: "Does this need to be done at all?" 3. Focus on Impact Metrics 📊 • Replace "hours worked" with "problems solved" • Track outcomes, not activity • Cut meetings that don't drive decisions 4. Recovery is Productivity 🔄 • Short breaks boost problem-solving by 42% • "Always on" = always underperforming • Rest is not a reward - it's a requirement The truth? Working harder is amateur advice. Working smarter is what professionals do. What's your best "work smarter" hack? Share below 👇 --- 🔔 Follow Sharon Grossman for more leadership strategies that actually work ♻️ Share this to help your network work smarter, not harder

You don't need more time. You need better systems. Everyone wants to “work smarter,” But most people don't know how. Here are 10 simple shifts that helped me 10x my output,  Without burning out or adding more hours to the day. These will skyrocket your productivity: 1. Audit your calendar like a CFO:  ↳ If it’s not making you money or momentum, it’s probably just noise. 2. Use the 3x ROI Rule:  ↳ Before saying yes, ask: “Will this return 3x my time, money, or energy?” 3. Default to async.  ↳ Meetings are where momentum goes to die. Record Looms. Use Slack threads. 4. Stack your inputs:  ↳ Podcasts while walking. Audiobooks while cooking. Set aside time for deep reads. 5. Build decision SOPs.  ↳ If you Google the same thing twice, turn it into a mini-system. 6. 90/30/1 Sprint Method:  ↳ 90-min deep work. 30-min admin. 1 daily revenue action. 7. Schedule the drainers.  ↳ Hate email? Do it at 3pm. Hate DMs? Batch them weekly. 8. Templatize everything: ↳ If you do it more than twice, build the template. 9. Outsource to AI or Airtable before people.  ↳ Your first “hire” should be a system that never sleeps. 10. Leave margin.  ↳ Save time to think. White space is where the breakthroughs happen. Productivity doesn't happen spontaneously. Create systems.  Commit to following them.  Be consistent and hold yourself accountable. Have you tried any of these tactics?  Drop it in the comments. 👇 ♻️ Repost to help others boost their productivity.  Follow me Yash Daftary for more posts about personal development.