How Top Performers Get the Right Things Done

By Dennis McCafferty | Posted 2017-08-11

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How Top Performers Get the Right Things Done

Top performers excel at organization, attention to detail, time management, focus, punctuality and efficiency-boosting traits. Learn how they find their focus.
Productivity Champions

Managers surveyed said their top performers do 61% of the work in their departments.
A Smart Approach

38% of the managers said being a top performer is about "working smarter," while 9% said it's about working harder.
Out of Focus

88% of low performers said they often feel distracted and struggle to concentrate on one task at a time, while only 9% of top performers feel this way.
Scattered Focus

84% of low performers said they are habitual multitaskers who are always "hopping from task to task without reaching closure," but just 6% of top performers describe themselves this way.
Panic Mode

80% of low performers said they often get overwhelmed, thinking of "tasks looming over me … that are about to crash," but only 5% of top performers have the same experience.
Frenzy Mode

77% of low performers said they often feel rushed because they "remember a task at the last minute," while just 6% of top performers frequently experience this.
High Anxiety

74% of low performers said they often get anxious because they're never sure that they haven't forgotten something, but only 4% of high performers agree.
Security Issue

71% of low performers said they worry a lot because they keep wondering if they've done everything they need to do, while just 5% of high performers worry about this.
Fuzzy Math

69% of low performers said they underestimate their current workload, which leads them into agreeing to take on more than they can handle, but only 9% of top performers do this.
Mental Lapse

62% of low performers "experience things falling through the cracks" due to memory issues, while just 3% of top performers encounter this problem.
Chaotic State

55% of low performers said they "live in a mess" with a cluttered office and a "buried desk," but only 5% of top performers work this way.
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While it may sound like a bit of a cliché, the most productive and effective employees don't necessarily work brutal hours. They're just good at working smarter, not harder, according to a recent survey from VitalSmarts. The survey distinguishes employees who are considered skilled at "Getting Things Done (GTD)," which was the subject of the book, Getting Things Done: The Art of Stress-Free Productivity by David Allen, an executive coach and management consultant. For the purposes of the VitalSmarts research, GTD top performers are individuals who excel at organization, attention to detail, time management, focus and punctuality, as well as other efficiency-boosting traits. They also avoid excessive multitasking and are seldom accused of being "messy desk" people. "Productivity is more than just being busy," said Justin Hale, a VitalSmarts co-researcher for the study. "Employees who learn to manage their workload quickly and efficiently don't just get more done, they get more of the right things done. They stop carrying the weight and anxiety of work, and free up their time and mental capacity for new and better ideas. It's a win-win for both the individual and the business." Nearly 2,000 managers and employees took part in the research.

Dennis McCafferty is a freelance writer for Baseline Magazine.