When audiences ask me for an easy productivity tip for work, I tell them to think about their sweet tooth. In a lot of cases, they’re performing what I call, brownie tasks, things that take up time and don’t add a lot of value.
I first encountered brownie tasks while I was the Executive Director of a professional ballet company. At the time, money was extremely tight due to the recession and many donors had empty pockets thanks to the Bernie Madoff scandal.
An extensive fundraising campaign was our way to keep the doors open and the dancers dancing. From grants to donations, every avenue of support was pursued.
The possibility of the business closing motivated some parents of dance academy students to hold a bake sale. While they felt this was the sweet solution to our problems, I knew it would be more like Sweet’N Low, momentarily satisfying but otherwise lacking.
Here’s the productivity tip for work that the parents hadn’t considered. While a bake sale is fun, tasty, and a source of revenue, its potential impact on the financial problem is limited. At best, we would generate roughly $100 from the event.
The company’s expenses soared higher. Monthly payroll was more than six figures and just one pair of pointe shoes, which a ballerina could wear out after one performance, cost $125.
The effort, while greatly appreciated, would hardly have an impact on the bottom line.
You can be tempted to jump in and help with brownie tasks. I could have spent hours baking, putting up signs, and selling the food. While all would have helped the cause, would they have mattered in the big picture?
I realized my involvement with the bake sale needed to be limited to buying a couple of cookies. My attention needed to focus on obtaining significant sources of funding.
On the job, what are your brownie tasks? How much time are you spending on things that are enjoyable but don’t play a major role in your big picture goals? Over time, these activities can sneak onto your schedule and leave you wondering why you’re not more productive at work.
It’s possible to stay busy all day and accomplish very little. While a brownie tastes good, it shouldn’t be a major part of your diet.
