Productivity tips from the boss

WE ASKED 10 bosses across the US, the UK and Europe for their top productivity hacks. Their answers were wide-ranging: Maximising the morning – from workouts to breakfast meetings – is a popular strategy; the power of a list is another; and then there’s the sheer brain-clearing appeal of a good walk while taking time to check in with their team. 

Walk

Since late March, Mary Beth Laughton has been president and chief executive officer of the 87-year-old outdoor specialists Rei Co-op, overseeing about 14,000 employees. The Portland, Oregon-based Laughton lives the brand: “I love walking – for the exercise, for the joy of being outdoors and for the way it opens up space in my day. There’s a ton of research showing the mental and physical health benefits of time outside, and I really notice my ability to lock in and focus afterward. I try to get out a couple times a day.” She further maximises her walks: “Often I’m on the phone, calling mentors, checking in with peers or catching up with my team. It can be hard to find the time to really go deep with someone in the office, but time tends to slow down outside.”

Discipline and habits

As Under Armour’s managing director for Europe, Middle East and Africa, Kevin Ross is constantly on the move, from his Amsterdam base to the company’s global headquarters in Baltimore, US. He says he believes “productivity comes down to discipline and habits”. Accordingly, he goes to bed every night at 9 pm and hits the gym at 5 am, no matter where in the world he is. “I don’t know if it’s a hack, but consistency on how and when you wake up – your body will adapt to that very quickly,” he says. He’s also a big believer in lists. “Every day in the office, I write down almost the same list of things. Writing it down makes things really clear for me. I have three sections – what’s critical, what’s the task and what needs to be done – and I separate them by hours when I need to focus on them.”