HBR Guide to Getting the Right Work Done

We can get more money when we demonstrate that we've added more value. And we can add more value when we spend the majority of our time focusing on the work that the most senior leaders in our organization consider valuable. Identify your critical priorities. Focus your time and energy on the tasks that will yield the greatest value for you and your organization. Regularly evaluate your to-do list and calendar to ensure you're working on your highest-leverage activities. Say no to low-value work that doesn't align with key priorities. Use tools like the Eisenhower Matrix to categorize tasks by

Lesson 1: Prioritize ruthlessly to focus on what truly matters

This principle from HBR Guide to Getting the Right Work Done is backed by Harvard Business Review's extensive research and real-world examples. Understanding it deeply can shift how you approach decisions, relationships, and long-term planning in meaningful ways.

Lesson 2: Create rituals to make productivity automatic

This principle from HBR Guide to Getting the Right Work Done is backed by Harvard Business Review's extensive research and real-world examples. Understanding it deeply can shift how you approach decisions, relationships, and long-term planning in meaningful ways.

Lesson 3: Manage your energy, not just your time

HBR Guide to Getting the Right Work Done makes a compelling case for patience as the ultimate competitive advantage. The math of compounding — whether applied to wealth, relationships, or skills — rewards those who stay in the game longest over those who play hardest.

How to Apply HBR Guide to Getting the Right Work Done's Lessons

The real value of HBR Guide to Getting the Right Work Done lies in its applicability. After reading, the most important step is identifying which of Harvard Business Review's principles speak most directly to your current situation.

Consider keeping a journal while reading — noting where the ideas challenge your current approach and where they confirm what you already suspected. The friction of your own resistance often points to the most important insights.

Key Quote

"Prioritize ruthlessly to focus on what truly matters" — Harvard Business Review, HBR Guide to Getting the Right Work Done

About the Author

Harvard Business Review is the author of HBR Guide to Getting the Right Work Done. The book reflects years of research, observation, and synthesis of evidence from multiple disciplines.