One of this improves results. It improves perception.
Consider two employees delivering the same project. One finishes early, documents clearly, and logs off. The other stretches the work, schedules multiple check-ins, and keeps their status green all day. Guess who is seen as more committed?
Productivity theatre thrives where trust is low and measurement is weak. When leaders don’t know how to evaluate output, they fall back on visibility—hours worked, responsiveness, presence. These are easy to observe, but poor indicators of value.
The real cost isn’t just burnout. It’s lost thinking time. Deep work looks suspicious in a culture obsessed with constant availability. Silence is mistaken for disengagement. Efficiency is mistaken for laziness.
Ironically, organizations that claim to “move fast” often move the slowest—because everything needs to be seen, discussed, reviewed, and re-reviewed.
The solution isn’t another productivity tool. It’s clarity and courage.
Clear outcomes. Honest expectations.
And the courage to reward results, not rituals.
Until then, productivity theatre will keep running.
The audience is tired—but the performance continues.
