Get Good First [A Productivity Strategy Most Ignore]

When we talk about productivity, we often look at things like:

• Do I have the right environment?

• Am I in the right mental state?

• Do I have strong support systems?

• What tools am I using?

• Is my workload manageable?

• What are my personal circumstances?

These are all valid and important variables—ones I’ve addressed in various ways through this newsletter. But today, I want to bring your attention to something less talked about. Not because it’s unimportant, but because it’s uncomfortable.

Let’s call it what it is:

Incompetence

I know—that word can feel harsh. But it’s also honest. And clarity is better than comfort when we’re trying to grow.

When most people think of productivity, their minds jump to systems:

1. Time blocking

2. Energy management

3. Focus tools

4. Organization hacks

5. Resource allocation

But all of these assume one thing:
That you already know how to do the work—and do it well.

The truth? Many productivity struggles don’t stem from poor planning or lack of effort. They come from skill gaps. When we don’t have the capability to perform a task efficiently, no amount of productivity hacks will save us.

The Frustrating Reality of Learning Something New

If you’ve ever started something outside your comfort zone, you’ll relate to this:

• It takes longer than expected

• The quality isn’t where you want it to be

• It leaves you mentally drained

• You feel frustrated that you’re not improving fast enough

All of this is natural. What you’re experiencing is the performance dip that occurs when competence is low.

This is where many professionals lose motivation. They start trying to experiment their way through it. Watching random tutorials. Reading inconsistent advice. Piecing things together from podcasts or blog posts.

The intention is good. The outcome? Often, wasted time and scattered progress.

The Smarter Approach: Structured Skill Development

From my experience coaching high performers, one principle has stood out consistently:

That means beginning with structured, specialized knowledge—not trial-and-error. Learn how something works, understand its frameworks, then follow proven systems.

This dramatically reduces your learning curve, minimizes costly mistakes, and accelerates results.

In fact, one of the core pillars in my coaching program is exactly this:
✅ Assess your skill level
✅ Understand your competence gaps
✅ Create a focused growth plan

This approach gives professionals clarity, direction, and measurable wins.

A Simple Competency Framework to Try Today

In the energy sector—where precision, safety, and performance matter deeply—we used a simple but powerful competency model to assess technical and leadership capabilities. I still use this with clients today.

Here are the four levels of competence:

1. Awareness – You’ve heard of it, but haven’t used it in practice

2. Knowledge – You understand it conceptually, maybe even technically

3. Skill – You can apply it in real-world scenarios with some confidence

4. Mastery – You deliver consistently excellent results with minimal effort

It’s a great lens to self-reflect—especially when you’re feeling “stuck” in your productivity journey.

Your Action Step This Week

Take 10 minutes to do this simple, yet transformative exercise:

1. List your top 10 most important skills—those that directly influence your results at work or in your personal life.

2. For each, honestly assess your current competency level using the framework above.

3. Then, pick one skill you want to improve. Identify one specific action you can take this week to strengthen it.

This might mean:

• Signing up for a short course

• Asking for feedback

• Practicing intentionally for 30 minutes a day

• Shadowing a colleague who’s mastered it

Don’t overthink it. Start small. But start.

Why This Matters

Because the more competent you become, the faster you execute.
And not just faster—but better, more confidently, and with less friction.

In a world full of productivity hacks and optimization tools, skill development remains one of the most overlooked levers for sustainable performance.

So if you’re serious about becoming more productive this month—don’t just manage your time.
Upgrade your talent.

Bonus:
We hold a monthly webinar at The GrowthPlug on the last Saturday of every month at 5 PM BST / 4 PM GMT.

This month, we’re excited to host the phenomenal Julia LeFevre, Founder & CEO of @Brave Restoration.
She blends science, soul, and strategy to help people become powerful, purpose-driven self-leaders.

👉 Don’t miss this! Register here so you’ll get notified about the event.