Overcoming Procrastination

🔎 How To Redesign Complex Navigation: How We Restructured Intercom’s IA (https://lnkd.in/ezbHUYyU), a practical case study on how the Intercom team fixed the maze of features, settings, workflows and navigation labels. Neatly put together by Pranava Tandra. 🚫 Customers can’t use features they can’t discover. ✅ Simplifying is about bringing order to complexity. ✅ First, map out the flow of customers and their needs. ✅ Study how people navigate and where they get stuck. ✅ Spot recurring friction points that resonate across tasks. 🚫 Don’t group features based on how they are built. ✅ Group features based on how users think and work. ✅ Bring similar things together (e.g. Help, Knowledge). ✅ Establish dedicated hubs for key parts of the product. ✅ Relocate low-priority features to workflows/settings. 🤔 People don’t use products in predictable ways. 🤔 Users often struggle with cryptic icons and labels. ✅ Show labels in a collapsible nav drawer, not on hover. ✅ Use content testing to track if users understand icons. ✅ Allow users to pin/unpin items in their navigation drawer. One of the helpful ways to prioritize sections in navigation is by layering customer journeys on top of each other to identify most frequent areas of use. The busy “hubs” of user interactions typically require faster and easier access across the product. Instead of using AI or designer’s mental model to reorganize navigation, invite users and run a card sorting session with them. People are usually not very good at naming things, but very good at grouping and organizing them. And once you have a new navigation, test and refine it with tree testing. As Pranava writes, real people don’t use products in perfectly predictable ways. They come in with an infinite variety of needs, assumptions, and goals. Our job is to address friction points for their realities — by reducing confusion and maximizing clarity. Good IA work and UX research can do just that. [Useful resources in the comments ↓] #ux #IA

This productivity tool saved me 20 hours per week: The Eisenhower Matrix. Most people confuse being busy with being productive. But activity isn't achievement. Progress is. I spent years in reactive mode—fighting fires, handling "urgent" tasks, wondering why I never made real progress on what mattered. Then I discovered this: Not all tasks are created equal. The breakthrough came from separating urgent from important. The system is simple: Draw a 2x2 matrix and categorize every task: • Important & Urgent → Do Now • Important & Not Urgent → Decide (schedule it) • Not Important & Urgent → Delegate • Not Important & Not Urgent → Delete Track your tasks for one week. At the end, ask yourself: • Which quadrant consumed most of your time? • Which quadrant holds most of your tasks? The gap between these answers reveals everything. I discovered I was spending 70% of my time on "urgent but not important" tasks—other people's priorities disguised as emergencies. The shift was simple: I started saying no to fake urgencies and scheduling deep work for what actually mattered. You can't eliminate all urgent tasks. But when you spend most of your time on important non-urgent work, you build the life you want instead of reacting to the life you have. Watch the full 3-minute breakdown to implement this system today.

“I’m just doing my job.” "It was nothing, really." "I just did what anyone would do." This is how I used to brush off praise at work. I thought I was being humble, but I didn’t realize I was also making myself invisible. Constantly downplaying my achievements affected how others saw me and limited the opportunities I was offered. I decided it was time for a change. Here's what I did: 🔹 Self-awareness: I started noticing when I minimized my contributions. Realizing this was my first step toward change. 🔹 Document successes: I began keeping track of my achievements and the positive feedback I got. This not only boosted my confidence but also helped during performance reviews. 🔹 Practice my pitch: I learned to talk about my accomplishments. I practiced in team meetings, one-on-ones with my manager, and even in casual chats with colleagues. 🔹 Accept praise: Instead of downplaying my accomplishments, I started simply saying, “Thank you.” It felt good to acknowledge my hard work. Remember, it's not bragging if it's based on facts. Don’t be afraid to own your successes and talk openly about your achievements. Your career deserves that recognition. Have you ever caught yourself minimizing your accomplishments? How did you overcome it? #LeadingQuietly #IntrovertAtWork #Career

I used to struggle with being both friendly and strict.  Now, I’ve found a balance that works wonders for my team. As a country manager and a co-founder, I often get asked how I manage to be both friendly and strict with my team. Honestly, I've wrestled with this balance for years but here's what I've learned: it's all about creating a "friendly professionalism" that respects both relationships and results. I try to keep the friendly side outside of office hours. We hang out as a team, chat casually, and build relationships. But when we’re in the office, it’s work time. While I’m supportive and understanding, I also maintain a professional distance. This helps to keep everyone focused and productive. I love those moments when we can unwind together, chat during morning coffee, or catch up in the evenings. It's important to build rapport and a sense of unity outside of the day-to-day grind. Inside the office, from 9 AM to 6 PM, it's all about business. I respect my team's time and encourage a healthy work-life balance. No unnecessary late hours, no unrealistic expectations. Once the clock strikes six, my team leaves on time, refreshed for the next day. That doesn't mean I'm distant during work. When someone needs support—whether it's due to personal matters or challenges on the job—I’m there. We go all out to ensure our team feels valued and supported. Ultimately, this balance fosters a productive environment where work is respected, and personal connection is nurtured. It’s about striking the right chord between professionalism and empathy How do you manage to create boundaries while maintaining a productive, friendly work environment?.

I’m a content creator. And yet, if I realise a social media app is eating into my productivity… I uninstall it in under a minute. People are often surprised when I say this. “But you create content for a living! How can you uninstall an app?” Exactly. That’s the point. Being a creator doesn’t mean being addicted to apps. It means controlling your time, energy, and focus. Here’s what actually works for me — and can work for you too: 1. Track your usage first Spend 3–5 days noting how much time you spend on apps. Seeing 2–3 hours vanish in random scrolling often makes the decision obvious. 2. Give every app a purpose Each app should serve a clear goal: learning, creating, networking. If it doesn’t, remove it. Ask yourself: “Is this helping me grow or just consuming me?” 3. Replace, don’t just remove Instead of scrolling out of habit, redirect that time to something meaningful: jot down ideas, read, practice a skill. Your brain still gets stimulation — but productive stimulation. 4. Schedule deep-focus blocks Block 90–120 minutes daily without your phone. Most of my best ideas happen here, not while scrolling. 5. Use micro-decisions to build discipline Deleting one app might feel small, but repeated conscious decisions train your mind to value focus over distraction. These micro-decisions compound over time. 6. Reflect weekly Ask yourself: “Which apps or habits helped me grow? Which distracted me?” This keeps your digital space curated and your attention sharp. The lesson? Productivity isn’t about being on every platform. It’s about consciously choosing what serves your goals — and ruthlessly letting go of what doesn’t. So today, ask yourself: Which apps, habits, or routines are quietly stealing your time? And what one micro-decision will you make to reclaim it?

Want To Master the art of building confidence and owning achievements without feeling boastful? Use These 5 Techniques To Promote Yourself. I have been in the Sales industry for 15+ years. During that time, I have closed millions in sales deals while building high-performing teams in male-dominated industries. I recently had the honor of presenting at the INBOUND conference, where I shared insights on how Women Sell Better by Leveraging Diversity to Boost Sales. In fact, I’ve invested so many hours into mastering my craft that I’ve developed frameworks and techniques that not only increase sales but transform how professionals see themselves and their abilities. But do you want to know a secret? I actually use the same five proven techniques every time. Technique #1: The Acknowledge & Affirm Strategy Here’s how it works: - Step 1: When someone compliments you, pause and fully absorb it. - Step 2: Acknowledge the compliment by saying, “Thank you,” but don’t stop there. - Step 3: Affirm it with “It’s true” or by stating the achievement behind the compliment. This simple template allows you to confidently own your accomplishments, transforming compliments into moments of empowerment. Technique #2: The Achievement Reflection Here’s how it works: - Step 1: Regularly reflect on recent successes, no matter how small. - Step 2: Write down your specific actions to achieve them. - Step 3: Share these reflections with others as part of your personal brand story. Quick note: Don’t downplay or brush off your accomplishments. That's a mistake. These steps work better when you fully embrace and communicate your wins authentically. Technique #3: The ‘Lead with Value’ Method Here’s how it works: - Avoid starting conversations with 'I did this' – it can come off as boastful. - Do lead with the value your action brought to the team or the client instead. - If you avoid self-centered language and focus on the value you create, you’ll unlock greater recognition and deeper connections. Easy, right? Technique #4: The Feedback Amplifier Here’s how it works: - Step 1: Ask for feedback on specific aspects of your work. - Step 2: Use the positive feedback to validate your strengths. - Step 3: Incorporate this feedback into your narrative when promoting your skills. Do these 3 things, and you’ll naturally amplify your confidence and others' perception of your expertise. Technique #5: The Confidence Anchor Here’s how it works: - Tip 1: Create a daily ritual where you recognize at least one thing you’ve done well. - Tip 2: Visualize a past success before entering a challenging situation. - Tip 3: Use affirmations to remind yourself of your strengths. That’s it! These techniques help you build unshakable confidence and promote your achievements without feeling boastful. #ThankYouItsTrue #OwnYourAwesome #WomenInSales

Here’s a hard truth: The more complex a system becomes, the more fragile it gets. We’re living in an era of exponential innovation—cloud ecosystems, quantum computing, IoT—but we’re drowning in a sea of self-inflicted complexity. Every new layer of code, every API integration, every “just-in-case” feature adds weight, friction, and hidden failure points. Here’s the problem: Complexity doesn’t scale. It slows momentum. It creates technical debt. It confuses users. And in a world of interconnected systems, complexity isn’t just inefficient—it’s reckless. Opaque decision-making, tools that require endless training, and processes that even their designers can’t fully explain? This isn’t progress—it’s a recipe for stagnation. The antidote? Ruthless simplicity. ❗ The iPhone replaced clunky buttons with a single glass screen. ❗ Google’s homepage stripped away the noise to deliver one purpose. ❗ The most impactful innovations today aren’t the ones with the most bells and whistles—they’re the ones that solve specific problems efficiently and effectively. Simplicity isn’t lazy. It’s disciplined. It’s about distilling chaos into clarity. For leaders, this means: ✅ Intuitive design that anyone can use—no manual required. ✅ Focused problem-solving instead of “do-everything” bloat. ✅ Transparent processes where every step can be traced, understood, and trusted. The future belongs to builders who simplify. Will your strategy be a labyrinth of dependencies that crumble under their own weight? Or a streamlined engine that adapts, scales, and earns loyalty? 🔥 Challenge of the day: What’s one thing you can simplify in your tech stack, process, or product this week? Drop a comment below. Complexity is the enemy of execution. Simplicity is the foundation of scale. #Leadership #Innovation #TechTrends #SimplicityScales #DigitalTransformation

Every generation upgraded its phone. But somewhere along the way, our focus got downgraded. The screen never sleeps, and silence feels like a glitch. Yet, two senior leaders I recently worked with both from global #manufacturing MNCs discovered something powerful while building their Productive Mindset. They began with a simple rule: 25 minutes of phone-free focus. At first, it felt uncomfortable. The urge to check notifications every few minutes was real. But within a week, they noticed something remarkable tasks that used to take them 3 hours were now done in under 90 minutes. Their secret? They redefined “open-door policy” to “open door + focused time.” A sign on their office door reads exactly that. Initially, the team resisted. “What if we need you urgently?” But soon, they appreciated the outcome clearer decisions, quicker reviews, and calmer meetings. Try this: Pick one 25-minute slot today. Put your phone away. #Focus on one thing deeply. You may just realize how much brilliance hides behind your #notifications.

The End-of-Day Reflection: Adding Value to Your Job and Personality In the fast-paced rhythm of modern life, it's easy to get caught up in the hustle and bustle of daily tasks, deadlines, and responsibilities. However, taking a moment at the end of each day to reflect on our actions and their impact can be a powerful practice for personal and professional growth. One simple yet profound question can guide this reflection: "What values have I added to my job and my personality today?" Adding Value to Your Job At the heart of every profession lies a set of core values: integrity, excellence, responsibility, and dedication. These values are not just abstract concepts; they are actionable principles that shape how we approach our work. By asking ourselves what value we've added to our job, we focus on more than just completing tasks. We consider the quality of our work, our contributions to team success, and our alignment with the organization's goals. Adding Value to Your Personality Our professional lives are intrinsically linked to our personal growth. The values we uphold at work can significantly influence our character and personality. Reflecting on how we have developed as individuals each day fosters continuous self-improvement and emotional intelligence. Key Considerations: 1. Self-Awareness: Have I gained insights into my strengths and areas for improvement? 2. Empathy and Compassion:*m Did I show understanding and care for others' perspectives and needs? 3. Resilience and Adaptability: How did I respond to challenges and changes? 4. Ethical Standards: Have I acted in alignment with my moral and ethical values? A Practical Example Consider the case of Rahul, a salesperson at a company that sells medical devices. Each day, Rahul takes a few minutes to reflect on his contributions and personal growth. One day, he realized that while he met his sales targets, he had focused more on closing deals than on understanding the specific needs of each healthcare provider he worked with. The next day, Rahul decided to change his approach. Instead of pushing for sales, he spent extra time with each client, asking detailed questions about their challenges and needs. He provided tailored solutions that better matched their requirements and followed up to ensure they were satisfied with their purchases. This not only helped him build stronger relationships with his clients but also increased his sales in the long run as clients appreciated his dedication and care. By reflecting on his actions, Rahul added value to his job by enhancing customer satisfaction and loyalty, and to his personality by nurturing empathy, patience, and a service-oriented mindset. Conclusion By asking yourself, "What values have I added to my job and my personality today?" you engage in a powerful practice that fosters growth and fulfillment.