Work Less, Do More: The 5 Pillars of Smarter Work

Inbound

February 10, 2025

Work Less, Do More: The 5 Pillars of Smarter Work

Want to know the secret to achieving more in 2025? Work less. Yes, really. It might sound counterintuitive, but at INBOUND 2024, we learned that the most successful leaders aren't the ones putting in the most hours—they're the ones working smarter.

During her session, Dr. V Boykin broke down exactly why, and more importantly, what to do about it.

YOU'RE BUSY, BUT ARE YOU ACTUALLY PRODUCTIVE?

Remember when we thought working from home would give us more balance? Flash forward to the present, and somehow, we're juggling more than ever. The post-COVID workplace has blurred the lines between work and life in ways that are quietly wrecking our productivity. As Dr. V pointed out, we're doing 84% more chores since COVID hit, and 85% of us are multitasking during meetings.

"Between meetings, when you're flipping the laundry, or washing that dish, or preparing the meal for the evening... you're not strategizing," Dr. V noted. "This is where companies come into play. They want us to be strategizing, right?"

We're constantly busy but rarely strategic, and that's a problem for both employees and employers.

THE FIVE PILLARS OF WORKING SMARTER

Ready to break free from the "do more" trap? Dr. V shared five key areas to focus on (and none of them involve working longer hours). Here's how to actually work less while achieving more:

1. Leverage Strategic Mentorship

Think mentorship is just nice to have? Think again. Dr. V shared that women with mentors are 56% more likely to land jobs post-MBA. But it's about more than just career advancement. Mentorship means having someone to help you navigate tricky workplace situations and make better decisions about where to invest your energy.

2. Redefine Work-Life Balance

Working more hours doesn't mean getting more done. In fact, it often means the opposite. "When you're not overworking yourself, you work more effectively. You are more sharp, you are more effective, and it is not the quantity of hours that you work. It is the quality of those hours," Dr. V emphasized.

This isn't just feel-good advice; it's backed by data showing that well-rested employees are more productive, innovative, and (surprise!) more profitable for their companies.

3. Build Your Support System

You don't need to do it all yourself. In fact, you shouldn't. "You can have it all without doing it all. You just shouldn't be the one doing it all." She challenged companies to rethink their perks, suggesting that instead of gym memberships, organizations should offer practical support like grocery delivery services and meal kits that actually free up strategic thinking time.

4. Choose Opportunities Strategically

Want to advance your career without burning out? Get selective about your yeses. "You have the right to say yes to the things that serve you. That means you also have the right to say no to the things that don't," Dr. V advised. Identify and work on more impactful assignments that align with your predetermined growth goals.

Before saying yes to a new project, she recommends asking two key questions:

Will you get to present this cross-functionally?
Can you present to your boss's boss?

If the answer is no to both, it might not be the right opportunity for your growth.

5. Own Your Ambition

Perhaps most importantly, Dr. V emphasized that, "You do not need permission for your level of ambition." She encouraged leaders to focus on accomplishments rather than attitude, and to build environments where diverse talent can thrive—noting that diverse teams increase profit by 15-35%.

TAKEAWAYS

This all comes down to personal well-being and how that goes hand-in-hand with building more successful, profitable organizations. As Dr. V put it:

When you prioritize, you experience less stress. When you have less stress, your productivity goes up. When you focus on those five areas, your sense of belonging goes up. When you belong more, your attrition goes down.

Ready to work less and achieve more?

For Leaders:

Take a hard look at your company perks. Are they actually helping your team work smarter?
Create meaningful mentorship opportunities.
Build support systems that enable strategic thinking time.

For Individual Contributors