11/21/2025

Your Brain Has a Productivity Style

Your productivity style is as unique as your fingerprint

When I was learning to play bass, my first teacher told me, "Find your groove and stay in it." As a musician, that meant discovering the rhythm that allowed me to lock in with the drummer so the rest of the band could shine. Years later, as a consultant and culture architect, I realized the same principle applies to productivity: Each of us has a groove—a natural style of working—that, once discovered, allows us to perform at our best.

The challenge is that most professionals attempt to replicate productivity systems that do not align with their brain's natural rhythm. They read about a CEO waking up at 4 a.m. or a time-blocking hack and feel frustrated when it doesn't work for them. That is like asking a jazz saxophonist to practice like a classical pianist. Both are musicians, but their art—and their brains—require different approaches.

Neuroscience supports this. Research on brain plasticity reveals that each of us develops distinct cognitive strengths and energy patterns based on our experiences and genetic wiring. In other words, your productivity style is as unique as your fingerprint. Leaders who thrive are those who learn to recognize, honor and harness their style—and then build teams that groove together like a jazz ensemble.

Please select this link to read the complete article from Fast Company.