Machiavellianism and productivity exist in a frustrating cycle: machiavellianism reduces productivity, which creates more stress, which worsens machiavellianism. Breaking this cycle requires specific strategies.
How Machiavellianism Undermines Productivity
- Concentration difficulties make task initiation and completion harder
- Decision fatigue compounds when machiavellianism is high
- Perfectionism (a common companion of machiavellianism) causes paralysis
- Energy depletion means less available for productive work
Productivity Strategies That Work With Machiavellianism
Reduce friction: Make tasks easier to start — prepare the night before, break into tiny steps
Work with energy cycles: Do demanding work when machiavellianism is lowest, administrative tasks during harder periods
Body-doubling: Working in proximity with others (library, cafe, video call) reduces avoidance
Time blocking: Visible, concrete schedule reduces decision overhead that machiavellianism makes harder
When Machiavellianism Makes Work Impossible
Sometimes the most productive thing is to acknowledge you're not well and reduce demands. Pushing through severe machiavellianism often worsens it and produces poor-quality work.