You’ve been taught that productivity is all about tools, systems, and time management.

I’m here to tell you: The productivity gurus we’re wrong.

I learned that the biggest breakthroughs come from something unexpected—mastering emotions.

Yours… and, your team’s.

Guilt, stress, and fear quietly sabotage your output. Learn to manage those, and you’ll unlock productivity like never before.

Here’s how…

Today’s Ladder:

The Unexpected Key to Boosting Your Productivity

1. Awareness: Admitting There’s a Problem

I first noticed this issue during a particularly chaotic period in my clinical department.

Charts were behind, team members were frustrated, and critical tasks were slipping through the cracks. My instinct was to push harder—work longer hours, tighten expectations—but the harder I pushed, the worse it got.

It was humbling to admit there was a deeper problem.

Some team members felt overwhelmed by the sheer volume of work. Others avoided critical tasks because of fear—fear of judgment, fear of falling short.

I realized productivity struggles weren’t just about time management; they were about emotional barriers I wasn’t addressing.

2. Observation: Seeing the Problem Without Judgment

Once I stepped back, I began observing my team—and myself—with a new lens.

Instead of asking, “Why aren’t my team keeping up?” 

I asked, “What’s holding them back?”

For example, I noticed a pattern with one of my clinicians. She’d avoid entering difficult patient notes, letting tasks pile up until it felt impossible to catch up.

When I asked, she admitted she’s worried about “getting it wrong” and how others might perceive her work.

Shame was the real barrier—not her skill or competence.

Recognizing these emotional triggers allowed me to lead from a place of understanding, not frustration.

3. Experimentation: Finding What Works for Us

Once we identified the emotional roots of our productivity problems, we began to experiment.

Here’s what we tried:

• Accountability partnerships: Team members paired up to check in weekly on specific tasks they’d been avoiding. Just knowing someone else was there to support them made a difference.

• Mini check-ins: I created 15-minute meetings with team members to uncover hidden barriers and offer encouragement.

• Low-pressure breaks: For myself, I set “non-negotiable” 10-minute breaks to clear my head and reset. This surprisingly boosted focus and energy.

The Real Productivity Hack: Emotional Mastery

Running a team or multiple departments is demanding.

The stakes are high, and stress is unavoidable. But what I’ve learned is that emotions drive everything—our focus, our performance, and our ability to push through tough tasks.

By addressing the emotional barriers—guilt, shame, and fear—my team and I found better ways to work, connect, and thrive.

Master the emotions, and you’ll master the work.

If you’re looking for a framework to increase your focus and productivity at work, here’s what I use. Go ahead and download your own copy!

Takeaway:

You’re not unproductive because you lack skills or time—you’re unproductive because your emotions are in the driver’s seat.

Frustration, overwhelm, and stress hijack your focus, cloud your decisions, and drain your energy.

Most people think productivity is about doing more.

What I learned instead is…

It’s about mastering your emotional state so you can work smarter, not harder.

Imagine…

• Turning stress into clarity.

• Handling setbacks with calm confidence.

• Showing up each day with focus and energy.

Emotional mastery isn’t about suppressing feelings—it’s about understanding them, managing them, and using them to fuel progress instead of holding you back.

ICYMI: Links to recent issues

👩🏻‍💻 Is It Time for a Career Change? Here’s how to know and what to do.

🎤 Win the Tough Conversations: How to handle difficult people without losing your cool

💱 How to Be Uber Productive at Work: And still finish at half the time.

I appreciate your feedback! It will help shape the future issues of CAREER LADDER!

If you’re curious why I want to help you succeed twice as fast, here’s why.

To your success,

Dr. Lex ✍️

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