To open with, we should clarify that busyness and growth are not the same thing.
It is easy to mistake motion for progress - feeling productive because we are busy, even when we aren’t moving toward a meaningful target, objective or goal.
This phenomenon is what has become known as The Illusion of Progress, and it can be deceptive, creating a sense of achievement without any real progression. With many of us confusing activity with progress, it’s easy to be deceived that any activity is better than no activity. However, this meaningless activity without purposeful direction can lead to frustration rather than achievement.
Many individuals and workplaces often claim to measure themselves by how busy they are. A crowded calendar with back-to-back meetings and long working days are often viewed and celebrated as signs of productivity.
However, busyness is not a good indicator of effectiveness. In contradiction to the commonly held belief of busyness as a virtue, research and workplace testimonials inform us that the more we fill our time with activity, the more difficult it becomes to focus on the wildly important.
The feeling of being busy provides a psychological reward. Our brain releases dopamine when we complete small tasks, even if these tasks are not meaningful or purposeful. Crossing items off a to-do list can feel good, but if those tasks are not aligned to meaningful goals, they’re nothing more than distractions.
“If you don’t give your life direction, the world will provide a distraction.”
Individuals, leaders, and managers who understand the difference between motion and progression take time to assess their goals, before aligning any actions with their purpose or desired outcomes.
To make more meaningful progress consider the following:
- Are the tasks you are involved in contributing to a clear and purposeful objective?
- Are you reacting to urgency, or responding to importance?
- Are your actions aligned with your goals, or are you trying to keep up with the demands or distractions around you?
“Planning counts – but only if it leads to action. Learning counts – but only if it changes behaviour. Thinking counts – but only if it brings greater clarity.”
(Dan Murray)