Episode 01 | What is Productivity?

The Better Workday Podcast – Episode 1 with Niamh Moynihan

Apple Podcast | Spotify | YouTube

Introduction: More Than Just Output

Productivity might seem straightforward—get more done in less time. But in this first episode of The Better Workday Podcast, host Niamh Moynihan challenges that assumption and invites us to take a layered, more human view of what productivity really means.

If you’ve ever ended a packed day wondering, “Why don’t I feel like I got anything done?” then this episode is for you.

Key Insights from the Episode

1. Modern productivity has layers

Niamh introduces four distinct yet interrelated dimensions of productivity:

• The Traditional Definition: Productivity is often reduced to an equation: Output ÷ Input. While this is useful in manufacturing or measurable outputs, it falls short in modern, knowledge-based work.
  
  
• Being Productive: The execution of planned tasks. Ticking off to-dos might feel good, but it doesn’t always mean the work was meaningful or impactful.
  
  
• Feeling Productive: This is emotional, shaped by perceived progress and feedback. A day packed with activity doesn’t always equate to satisfaction.
  
  
• Viewing Yourself as a Productive Person: This deeper, identity-level layer affects self-esteem and motivation over the long term.

2. Productivity isn’t the same as being busy

Traditional measures—like the number of emails answered or meetings attended—can mislead us. Niamh challenges us to consider the value and relevance of our output, not just the volume.

She likens it to making sandwiches: if you make more in less time, but no one wants them anymore, your impact drops to zero. The value of the result matters.

3. Feedback is key to productivity over time

When you complete a task or get instant feedback from the person you are working with, it’s easier to see the link between your effort and the result. However, there are many types of work where the cycle is longer. It could take weeks or even months to see the result. This delay can make it feel like no progress is being made, which can drain motivation. Regular feedback can keep you on track, even when the end isn’t in sight.

Practical Tips

To apply these ideas in your work:

• Zoom Out: Stop judging your productivity by the minute. Look at patterns over a week or a month.
• Seek and Give Feedback: Create feedback loops with peers, managers, and even yourself to better track what’s working.
• Define “Good Enough”: Set personal benchmarks to prevent the endless pursuit of perfection.
  
  

This Week’s Reflection Prompt

Start a conversation with your team or peers around these questions:

• What does productivity mean to you?
• What makes you feel productive?
• How can we provide feedback that supports each other’s productivity?
  
  

These questions are simple, but the conversations they unlock can help create healthier, more sustainable ways of working for yourself and your team.

Redefining Productivity

This episode challenges the overly simplistic views of productivity we’ve absorbed from outdated systems and reframes them through a more compassionate, nuanced lens..

You can listen to the full episode wherever you get your podcasts. And if you enjoyed it, consider sharing it with someone who might benefit.

Stay well, and have a better workday.

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