Productivity exists in various social realms. The characteristics of a productive government or economy will unsurprisingly differ from those attributed to an individual. Scientific development allows us to measure and predict the productivity of institutions and establishments by studying the efficiency of their tangible output. It is, however, no news that a human operates on principles that are significantly less linear. Our productivity relies on all kinds of ever-shifting internal and external factors, so why is it that, in the present cultural manner, we’re so keen to compare it against a robotic mechanism?
How effectively (accomplishing the desired result), we perform certain tasks evidently depends on our skills, experience, knowledge, capital (financial as well as social), and motivation. Whereas the level of efficiency in our undertaking could be analysed based upon the amount of time, effort, and resources put towards it - the less the better! The notion of productivity is an umbrella for both these terms, meaning that the quality of being productive involves a “toolbelt” suitable for the task in combination with thoughtful strategy and dynamic pace. Judging by this criteria we might think that a productive individual is practically a Superhuman equipped with brilliant time management skills.
What we may find instead is that the foundation of productivity resides well within our reach. The innate motivation consisting of the need for shelter, nourishment, and security might be the starting point of a bigger internal aspiration. Research shows that humans are naturally inclined to desire accomplishment as well as physical and intellectual stimulation that fruitful completion of most tasks demands. We find ourselves wanting to contribute towards shared goals, and, with that, the potential emotional fulfilment which may follow. Something one may be shy to admit is that productivity, and achievement that comes as a result of it, can often be the cause for praise - positive acknowledgement we are psychologically wired to enjoy.
Finding motivation is parallel to finding meaning, both tasks requiring self-reflection. Humans are meaning-hungry beings, thus our most productive performance takes place when we can identify it. Meaning may differ from the evident purpose of the task, it is prescribed to it with the help of the complex and individual nature of our reasoning. It is safe to say that this very process of self-reflection may often be the most emotionally and intellectually challenging. While not every single line in our To-do list will be rich with existential consideration, studies show that productivity in the long-term context depends on finding a connection to one’s occupation and seeing the personal and communal value of it.
With these sentiments in mind, an individual’s productivity bears very little resemblance with that of rigidly designed mechanisms. We rely on contingent matters and forces, which can’t fully be accounted for by scientific sequences. Human productivity doesn’t have a formula, however, it is undoubtedly driven by motivation, meaning, and connection one is able to discover.