Being productive is improving your performance or results with the same or less effort. The best way we can do that is to find our flow, zone of genius, or what I like to call peak performance, more often. I've found it's based on factors that are in your control entirely and internally. Not only that, but you can learn to help other people using these methods too.

When people first talk about wanting to be more productive, they usually say they need more motivation. Working with dozens of individuals on their goals, I’ve never actually seen this being true. Motivation is simply the reason you have for acting or behaving in a particular way. It’s not the ‘how’ you’ll do something, it’s the ‘why.’

When you're not clear on your priorities, you're wasting a lot of your energy by being unfocused. On the other hand, when you're clear about your priorities, it's so much easier to quickly focus on what needs to be done, get it done, and move forward faster on your projects and goals.

Leaders know that time is their greatest commodity. They understand the value of their own time (and that of others) so they don't waste it. They don't let their calendar get taken over with meaningless meetings, they don't waste time spinning their wheels on a project, and they don't commit to more than they can handle.

Learning habits and structures to support your meetings are what will help you stand out as a leader in your organization. You will help your team to get more accomplished in less time, you can decrease the number of meetings, and you will be sought after by your peers to teach them your techniques.

Confused about what a coach actually does? Here's a clear, jargon-free breakdown of leadership coaching - how it works, what to expect, and how it's different from therapy or mentoring.

Productivity guilt looks like this: you're all excited about what you wanted to accomplish this summer, you go on a few trips, spend more time outside and with friends, then realize you aren't hitting your expected (or usual) levels of 'productivity.' Then you go down a guilt spiral: shaming yourself for not being further along and maybe even regretting the time you spent away from your work or projects.

Identifying and understanding our goal-getting persona allows us to lean into our strengths and seek out support where we tend to get stuck along the way. Using this as a tool when you're pursuing a goal or project will allow you to get there faster than you normally would on your own.

Hear directly from a recent client, Michelle, about why she decided to work with a life coach, why she chose Brittany, and her specific results. She shares she started the year with “goals, dreams, and plans were fuzzy or shrouded in fear, which resulted in a very anxious and frustrated me. After working with my coach Brittany for 6 months, I have the confidence, clarity, and empowerment to go get ‘em!”

Not all productivity tips and hacks are created equal. It's crucial to first understand where you're getting stuck so that you know where to focus your energy creating momentum. Otherwise you're just throwing spaghetti at the wall and hoping something works, and you're just continuing to waste energy instead of moving forward.