The Productivity Framework for Managers That Reclaims Your Time
- Mamie Kanfer Stewart
- Jul 29
- 5 min read
As a manager, your plate is always full; between meetings, supporting your team, and last-minute crises, it often feels like there's never enough time to finish your own work. But what if the problem isn’t the amount of time you have but how you’re using it?
Productivity coach and author Mridu Parikh unpacks why so many of us feel constantly overwhelmed and how managers can shift from chaos to control using a simple but powerful system: the ACTION framework.
This article breaks down the key takeaways so you can reclaim your best hours and lead your team with clarity, intention, and focus.
From Work-Life Balance to Work-Life Integration
Let’s get one thing straight: the idea of “work-life balance” is outdated. As Mridu explains, the goal is integration because everything you do is part of life. Whether it’s a sick child at home or an overflowing inbox at work, your brain doesn’t flip a switch at 5:00 PM. The mental juggling act is constant.
As a manager, recognizing this reality helps you and your team build systems that allow for focused work, without pretending life outside of work doesn’t exist. You’re not trying to eliminate distractions but to intentionally create space for what matters most.
The ACTION Productivity Framework
Mridu’s ACTION framework is a 7-step system designed to help you (and your team) get more done with less stress. Each letter stands for a critical productivity habit.
A – Avoid Distractions
We often think of distractions as external Slack notifications, chatty coworkers, or a noisy office. But one of the biggest culprits? Your thoughts. Those mental to-do lists (“Did I reply to that email?” “I need to pick up milk later”) constantly derail focus.
Mridu recommends setting up a simple capture system: write those thoughts down somewhere instead of trying to act on them immediately. Whether it’s a notes app or a physical notepad, the key is consistency. Get it out of your head and move on.
C – Commit to Your Power Hour
Your Power Hour is the most intentional hour of your day. It’s when you do your highest-priority, highest-impact work before your day gets hijacked by meetings and emails.
Mridu recommends having two: one personal (e.g., exercise, journaling, planning your day) and one professional (deep work on key projects). No multitasking, no checking email, no social media. Just focused on progress.
Managers often feel pulled in all directions, but starting the day with clarity and momentum can shift your entire energy.
T – Time Block Like You Mean It
Most calendars are filled with meetings and appointments, but barely any time is set aside for actual work. That’s a problem.
Time blocking helps you schedule work tasks the same way you would a meeting. Got a big presentation due Friday? Block time on Monday to outline it, Tuesday to draft it, Wednesday to review it with your team, and Thursday to finalize it. Don’t just hope it gets done, schedule the steps.
This also improves how you communicate timelines and capacity to others, reducing last-minute scrambles and missed deadlines.
I – Invest in Help
Many managers struggle to delegate. You might think, “It’s faster if I do it myself,” or “No one else will do it right.” But holding on too tightly not only burns you out. Plus, it robs your team of growth opportunities.
Start by identifying tasks you don’t enjoy or that someone else could do with a bit of training. As Mridu puts it, “There’s always something you hate doing that someone else loves.” Delegation isn’t a sign of weakness; it’s a leadership skill.
O – Own Your Voice
Saying “no” can feel uncomfortable, especially when it’s your boss or a team member asking for help. But boundaries are essential for sustainable performance.
A simple phrase like “Let me check my calendar and get back to you” gives you the space to evaluate priorities before committing. If it’s your boss, you might say, “I’d love to take this on. Can we look at my current projects together and reprioritize?”
By owning your voice, you protect your time without burning bridges.
N – No More in Your Head
You’re not a warehouse for every idea, task, and reminder. But too many of us use our brains that way, causing us to forget things or waste energy trying to remember them.
Choose one trusted place to store everything: tasks, ideas, reminders, requests, and long-term plans. Whether that’s a digital tool (like Notion, OneNote, or Asana) or a notebook, pick one system and stick with it. Mridu reminds us that it doesn’t need to be the perfect tool. You just need to use it religiously.
S – Systems That Set You Free
Underlying all the ACTION habits is the need for systems and repeatable processes that help you offload mental effort. That could mean:
A consistent way to capture random thoughts
A daily planning routine
A shared team tool for task tracking
A templated approach to project planning
The more decisions and reminders you can systematize, the more brainpower you free up for strategic thinking, people leadership, and creative work.
Managers Must Lead by Example
It’s tempting to focus these productivity strategies solely on your own work, but don’t stop there. As a manager, your behavior sets the tone for your team. If your team sees you overcommitting, firefighting, and responding to every ping, they’ll follow suit.
Instead, model what it looks like to:
Protect your Power Hour
Plan projects with realistic timelines
Say no with respect and clarity
Create space for deep, uninterrupted work
Invite your team to adopt the ACTION framework with you. Consider holding a team planning session where everyone identifies their Power Hour or sets up a unified task management system.
Being productive means intentionally doing what matters. By making some small changes to how you approach your day, you can drastically improve your focus and accomplish so much more.
Listen to the entire episode HERE to learn more about the Productivity Framework for Managers.
Keep up with Mridu Parikh
30% Off A One-Hour Productivity Coaching Call
Mridu is offering 30% off a one-hour productivity coaching call to members of Podcast+.
During this call, Mridu will help you gain clarity, focus, and control over your time, so you can follow through on what matters most.
To get this bonus and many other member benefits, become a member of The Modern Manager Podcast+ Community.
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