How Top Teams Stay Productive Without Burning Out
Research-backed approaches to sustainable productivity in fast-moving teams, including async-first communication and focus time blocking.
In the age of constant connectivity, maintaining productivity without burning out has become one of the biggest challenges for high-performing teams. After surveying over 500 engineering teams, we've identified the patterns that separate sustainable high performers from those heading toward burnout.
The Async-First Principle
The most productive teams we studied share one common trait: they default to asynchronous communication. Instead of scheduling meetings for every decision, they write detailed proposals, use threaded discussions, and reserve synchronous time for truly collaborative work.
Focus Time Is Non-Negotiable
Top teams protect blocks of uninterrupted focus time. This means no meetings before noon, dedicated 'maker days' where no meetings are scheduled, and clear expectations about response times on messages.
Measure Output, Not Hours
Tracking hours worked is a vanity metric. The teams that thrive focus on outcomes — features shipped, bugs resolved, customer problems solved. This shift in mindset reduces anxiety and increases autonomy.