The Productivity Shortcut You’re Probably Ignoring

Recently, as part of upgrading my business operations, our Head of People and Culture created a structured onboarding experience to help new team members become high performers within their first 90 days.

A major part of that plan is giving new employees clarity through documented processes, structure, and simple methodologies. Structure increases confidence, and confidence increases performance.

Watching this work unfold made me think about my own experience stepping into new roles over the last 10 years. I always had a personal strategy for ramping up quickly, and it has consistently helped me stand out. One method has been especially effective for me: repetition of the critical tasks.

Not mindless repetition. Not doing something for the sake of doing it. I am talking about intentional, focused repetition. This is the foundation of deliberate practice and habit formation. When you repeat a task that is central to your role, your brain reduces cognitive load. You stop trying to remember how to do it and begin exploring how to do it better.

You have probably noticed this in your own life. When you do something repeatedly, it eventually feels easier. You become faster. You can anticipate what comes next. That is competency being built and it is your brain becoming more efficient.

Many people quote the 10000-hour rule from Malcolm Gladwell. The research behind it from Anders Ericsson was never about doing something for a long time. It was about improving through purposeful repetition with attention and feedback.

Repetition gets a bad reputation. It can look boring. It can feel tiring. It can feel tasking. But productivity increases with repetition because repetition builds mastery.

The purpose of repetition is not to imprison you in the same task forever. Motivation will drop if you do that. The real purpose of repetition is to become so fluent at something that you start finding smarter and more efficient ways to do it. Once you reach that stage, you naturally begin to innovate.

Here is how I apply this principle:

1. I identify something important to do.

I focus on tasks that move the needle and contribute to long-term goals.

2. I repeat the task consistently until I master it.

Mastery reduces friction and increases speed.

3. I look for smarter ways to execute it.

Efficiency becomes obvious once the task becomes familiar.

4. I automate what I can.

Automation frees time and mental energy.

5. I stay motivated by the results I see.

Progress reinforces consistency.

Here is the key idea. Repetition is not the problem. Mindless repetition is the problem. Intentional repetition is one of the most effective ways to improve performance and accelerate productivity.

If you ever feel overwhelmed by a new role, a new skill, or a new project, focus on the most important task. Repeatedly work on it with clarity and intention. Track your improvement. Once you master it, upgrade the system.

Productivity is not only about how much you do. It is about how smoothly and intelligently you perform the tasks that matter most. Mastery comes through repetition. Innovation comes after mastery. Sustainable high performance comes from both.