SuperCompetent: The Six Keys to Perform at Your Productive Best

Part 1. SuperCompetent Key 1: Activity

Note

SuperCompetent people are driven by an intense focus on their priorities.

ACTIVITY demonstrates value and reflects importance.

This key gives you a sense of direction throughout the day.

We've all been there. It's the end of the day. Your schedule was jam-packed. You crossed 27 things off of your to-do list. Yet you still have a nagging feeling that the whole day slipped by before you got the chance to accomplish anything of much value.

Being busy is one thing. Being productive is something else. On the surface, it can be hard to tell the difference, which is why it's often easy and tempting to fall into the "busy" trap. As much as we supposedly revere productivity in today's workplace, busy is a false badge of honor. Stacks of papers covering a desk, a frazzled dash to the coffee machine, and all those blue streaks of Outlook (un)availability (wow, you're important!). It's easy to show how busy you are, but productivity is something much more personal—and much more significant.

At the end of the day, productivity is the only thing that matters. Everyone knows that a person who works an eight-hour day can be more productive than someone who works twelve. You need to be sure your time is not only accounted for, but has real value. Nobody cares how many things you crossed off your list or how busy you were last week if key projects are falling through the cracks. Only results matter. So think about how you can get the most value out of every day. ...