Why Working Smarter Is Not Enough
Optimal efficiency is futile if it doesn’t contribute to your goals
“Work smarter, not harder” is a staple quote in the world of business and startup inspiration porn. At face value, I think we all can agree that this is nothing short of a solid piece of advice.
After all, getting more done with less effort or fewer resources is the very definition of being efficient.
But what happens if you invest a lot of time and effort to “work smarter” on the wrong things? What if you are barking up the wrong proverbial tree?
Efficiency vs. Effectiveness
In my experience, it almost always pays off to be on the lookout for process optimizations, with one major caveat: it’s only worth the effort if these processes still align with the overarching business goals.
Efficiency is doing things right, while effectiveness is doing the right things.
Author Stephen R. Covey illustrates this point in his classic book The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People with the following example on the distinction between management and leadership:
Picture a group of people cutting their way through the undergrowth in a jungle…
