HBR IdeaCast
Treat Email Like Laundry — and Other Tips from Google’s Productivity Expert
Apr 2, 2024
In this episode, Laura Mae Martin, Google's Executive Productivity Advisor and author of 'Uptime,' shares invaluable insights into maximizing productivity. She discusses redefining productivity by finding balance and avoiding burnout. Laura introduces her innovative approach to calendar management and emphasizes the importance of inbox zero by likening email sorting to doing laundry. With tips on decision-making and setting boundaries, she reveals how small changes can lead to significant improvements in work-life balance and efficiency.
27:12
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Quick takeaways
- True productivity involves creative vision, big-picture thinking, and self-improvement, not just crossing tasks off a to-do list.
- Avoid over-commitment, prioritize tasks effectively, and align work with energy levels for enhanced productivity.
Deep dives
Productivity's Meaning Beyond Output
Productivity entails more than mere output and crossing tasks off a to-do list. Laura May Martin, Google's executive productivity advisor, argues that true productivity involves creative vision, big-picture thinking, and self-improvement. She emphasizes the importance of recognizing productivity as an overall contribution to long-term goals, highlighting the significance of avoiding burnout by balancing work and relaxation.
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