Efficient But Not Effective

What Is the Difference Between Accuracy and Precision?

We hear a lot about efficiency these days. Self-help books, technology, life hacks and motivational speakers all provide us tools for becoming more efficient, allowing us to do more things in less time. But is that really a good goal, just to cram more into our already busy lives? Instead of simply seeking ways to do things right, we should be striving to do the right things.

If efficiency is an end goal in and of itself, we may learn to be very productive in the wrong activities, efficiently doing what need not be done at all. Efficiency may be doing more with less, but to be effective, we cannot simply do more of the same. We must prudently discern what most needs to be done and execute those tasks above all others. We must evaluate and prioritize first, and then worry about efficiency.

A Toyota Prius may move you down the highway getting 58 miles to the gallon, a highly efficient vehicle indeed. But how effective is it if it is taking you in the opposite direction of where you need to be going? (Or if you are trying to haul something larger than a loaf of bread, or if there’s a foot of snow, but that’s a conversation for another time – sorry Prius). Efficient is not always effective.

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Mindset Matters

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