4 Types Of Productivity Styles: Which One Are You?
Have you tried every “life hack” out there but still struggle to stay productive? Worry no more! Let me introduce to you a book called Work Simply by Carlson Tate. She theorised that there is no one-size-fits-all approach to gaining productivity. Specific methods allow you to be in control and work in sync with how your brain is wired.
The first thing you should do now is to identify your productivity style. It allows you to work in sync with how you’re born to operate. Take the assessment here to find out which one fits you the most. Below, you’ll learn the four productivity styles and how to use them to your advantage!
1. The Prioritiser
Logical, consistent, and goal-oriented.
Prioritisers analyse problems before solving them. They focus on the most important tasks before starting to work on them. By calculating the estimated time needed to complete them beforehand, they can finish a large portion of assignments in a short time. Prioritisers are laser-focused on the work that needs to be done.
Strengths:
- Critically analysing data
- Consistent
- Decisive
- Goal-oriented
- Problem-solving
Weaknesses:
- Controlling and rigid
- Emphasising outcome over process
- Not valuing team interaction
- Prioritizing speed over excellence
- Overcompetitive
Tips for Prioritisers:
Time how long it takes to complete tasks and try to beat them, Tate suggests. It will enable you to create a time block for your projects as well as improve your execution speed. You can also strategise time-saving techniques like planning a week’s worth of meals at once or writing templates for emails that you can send again and again.
2. The Planner
Logical, consistent, and goal-oriented.
Planners love to make schedules; this includes calendars, to-do lists, and other planning tools. They find it easy to organise, sequence, and coordinate tasks while sticking to them. These people never miss the deadline and make great project managers. Similarly, they are strict in following the rules and make their team follow them too. For planners, it’s all about the outcome with an arranged process to achieve it.
Strengths:
- Action-oriented
- Attention to detail
- Consistent in following the plan
- Practical
- Organised
Weaknesses:
- Emphasising process over project
- Rigid
- Lack of flexibility
- Missing out on opportunities outside of the plan
- Overly attached to result
Tips for Planners:
Try using a 15-minute list. It is a checklist of tasks that can be done in 15 minutes or less. They are easy, quick things that you can complete with little brainpower and effort. This 15-minute list will allow you to maximise the micro-segments of your day – for example, when you’re waiting for a meeting to start.
3. The Arranger
Empathetic, intuitive, and people-oriented.
Arrangers are expressive, supportive, and love teamwork. They excel at working with people to complete the work. They are also great at building relationships, facilitating social events, and selling ideas. Arrangers possess strong communication skills while making exceptional teachers. These people keep the stakeholders up to date on work and effectively communicate ideas throughout the team.
Strengths:
- Empathetic
- Organising team activities
- Persuading and selling ideas
Weaknesses:
- Careless due to improper planning
- Lack of awareness of how they affect others
- Losing focus on the outcome
- Taking excessive responsibility for other people’s problems
- Valuing people over the project
Tips for Arrangers:
You work best when you’re with people, whereas too much alone-time can cripple your performance. Try scheduling time throughout your day to connect with people. You could text a friend, chat with a colleague, or video call your mom. Those little moments can give you a boost to bring you back on track. Sunshine also has a positive impact on productivity for arrangers, says Tate.
4. The Visualizer
Visionary, innovative, and idea-oriented.
Visualisers are inventive and are able to recognize new opportunities. For them, it’s all about the big picture and leaving out the details, structure, and tradition. They connect concepts to create something entrancing. These are the open-minded bunch who can solve complex issues by thinking creatively. Visualisers thrive under pressure and become bored quickly when there are only a few things to do.
Strengths:
- Creative problem solving
- Envisioning the future and spot opportunities
- Innovative; changemakers
- Integrating ideas
Weaknesses:
- Excessive spontaneity and impulsiveness
- Possibly overlook details
- Poor planning, thus turning in work late
- Too focused on possibilities over the process
Tips for Visualisers:
Stop thinking you can complete a project in one long go like a marathon. Instead, try incorporating speed and variety into your workflow to maintain that optimal performance. Act like a sprinter, do one thing for 20 minutes, then move on to do something different. That way, you can work while feeling refreshed and getting stuff done.
These styles aim to guide you to rediscover your productivity profiles with strategies that will guide you to bring out the best in you. Don’t panic if you find yourself wobbling between two or more styles. Feel free to try the tips and tricks from each, mix and match to find out which sticks with you till the end. The moment you find out what works for you, you’ll be working smarter, simpler, and living life more fully than you ever did before.
