“Our people must learn to do good by meeting the urgent needs of others; then they will not be unproductive.”

The rise of productivity as a key measurement is nothing new, but in the last three years we have put the focus on this number more than I can ever remember. Analysts are obsessed with how much productivity a company is returning. That is, how much are they getting done with the least number of people they can. I mean, I get it, but taken to the extreme, which is what we tend to be doing in all that we do in the business world these days, a high productivity number can lead to unwanted results like burn-out, morale issues, turnover, etc. As in most, if not all things, moderation is called upon to help us be able to manage over the long run. If we are solely focused on the short-term and an indicator like productivity we can lose sight of the bigger picture and certainly the needs of our people. Let’s not allow ourselves to become fixated on productivity as it will drive us to other measures that could be more harmful in the long run.

If each of us want to be the most productive in whatever we do, then we have to learn to give it up for ourselves in order to help and assist others. When we do that, we are being truly productive in a definition that is beyond a measure. Too much of our time can be spent on ourselves and what we want to do and we can lose what and should be our true focus. How much time are we spending on the needs of others versus our own? If seems really weird to have on our to-do list to take care of the needs of those around us, but that is what we are called to do. If we do, then we will see the rise in our productivity with a return that goes toward the Kingdom. Consider that definition of productivity for our pure and authentic measurement.

Happy Martin Luther King Day. Purposed worKING will be back on Tuesday the 17th.

Reference: Titus 3:14 (New Living Testament)