The phone buzzes. A key employee just gave notice, and suddenly the projects you thought were under control feel much less certain. Or maybe it’s not bad news—maybe your business just landed its biggest client yet. The excitement is real, but so is the scramble to figure out how to deliver at a higher level.
Whether the change is positive or negative, it disrupts the rhythm you were just starting to feel comfortable with. And how good you are at managing change will have a huge impact on your productivity.
You’ve heard the saying, “The only things that are guaranteed are taxes and death.” You could probably tweak that saying for businesses to say, “The only things that are guaranteed are taxes and change.”
No matter the size of an organization, it will always have to manage change. And as individuals within those organizations—or simply as people balancing life’s demands—we constantly face transitions too. So, what does that mean for productivity, both for the organization as a whole and for the people working inside it?
It starts with understanding what kind of change you’re dealing with.
Types of Change That Disrupt Productivity
Not all change looks the same. Some of it feels energizing and exciting, while other forms of change feel like they pull the rug out from under you. Growth, promotions, new opportunities, or increased sales are technically positive changes, but they can still create significant stress. Suddenly there’s more demand, more responsibility, and sometimes not enough people or systems to keep up.
On the other side, negative change—like downsizing, declining revenue, or the sudden loss of key staff—can throw an organization into survival mode. And beyond internal shifts, external forces such as regulatory changes, global events, or supply chain disruptions can upend the best-laid plans in an instant. Even personal changes—family challenges, health issues, or life transitions—spill over into work and disrupt our ability to focus.
The common denominator is disruption. Whether the change is good or bad, chosen or forced, it unsettles routines, challenges priorities, and demands energy that might otherwise fuel productivity.
Why Change Disrupts Productivity at Work
Productivity doesn’t slip simply because there’s more to do or fewer resources to do it. It’s often the mental and emotional ripple effects that cause the real drain.
Change introduces cognitive overload. Suddenly, your brain has to process new information, new expectations, or new uncertainties. Instead of directing energy toward the task at hand, much of it gets siphoned off into trying to make sense of the shifting environment.
It also scrambles priorities. What mattered last week may not matter today, and when the ground keeps moving, it’s difficult to know where to direct focus. Add in the emotional toll—whether that’s stress, fear, or even the adrenaline rush of exciting changes—and it’s easy to see why productivity becomes inconsistent.
And of course, no one experiences change in isolation. When organizations go through transition, teams often suffer from miscommunication, duplication of work, and bottlenecked decisions. Productivity isn’t just an individual issue; it’s systemic.
Mindset Shifts for Staying Productive During Change
The first step in staying productive during transition is shifting how you view change itself. Many people try to resist change or pretend it isn’t happening, but that usually only wastes energy. A more useful response is to accept that disruption is part of the process—and that it’s temporary.
It helps to reframe uncertainty as opportunity. Yes, change often brings stress, but it also creates openings for growth, skill-building, and even simplification. What feels uncomfortable now may be the very thing that helps you streamline processes or sharpen your focus later.
It’s also important to redefine productivity. In stable times, productivity may mean expanding, growing, or reaching ambitious benchmarks. In times of disruption, productivity might mean stabilizing and maintaining essential functions, or simply focusing on fewer but more important priorities. Once you release the expectation that productivity must always look the same, you free yourself from frustration and start working with change rather than against it.
Strategies for Managing Change and Staying Productive
On an individual level, it starts with anchoring yourself. When the world feels unpredictable, take time each week to reset and decide what truly matters right now.
You don’t need a twelve-month plan when circumstances are shifting; you need to know the three most important things to focus on this week. Shortening your planning horizon can reduce overwhelm and keep you agile.
Another strategy is to create “transition rituals.” These are simple routines that give you a sense of control, even when larger circumstances feel uncontrollable. A short morning reflection, a structured end-of-day shutdown routine, or even five minutes of journaling can help stabilize your mindset and keep you grounded.
Focusing on what you can control is also essential. When external forces are unpredictable, obsessing over them only drains energy. Instead, ask yourself, “What part of this situation can I influence today?” Then direct your effort there.
And finally, build more margin into your schedule. Change always comes with unexpected demands, so protect white space in your calendar. That flexibility often makes the difference between feeling reactive and staying effective.
On a team or organizational level, the strategies look slightly different. The most powerful is communication. Silence breeds anxiety, while clarity fuels productivity. Even if priorities change week to week, communicating them clearly and consistently helps people stay aligned.
Change is also a great time to revisit workflows. Disruption often exposes inefficiencies that went unnoticed when things were stable. Use the moment to streamline processes and simplify. Along with that, be willing to adjust what “success” looks like. Sometimes holding steady is the win; other times it’s onboarding effectively or focusing on core operations rather than chasing more growth.
Quick check-ins—sometimes no more than five minutes—can also help catch roadblocks before they become major obstacles. And shortening feedback loops keeps momentum alive. When change is constant, slow decision-making is costly. Rapid cycles of review and adjustment allow teams to adapt without losing productivity.
Adaptability and Resilience: Keys to Productivity in Times of Change
Most of us already know the baseline advice: take care of yourself, manage your time, and prioritize wisely. Those are essential, but in times of change, they aren’t enough. What truly sustains productivity through disruption is adaptability—the ability to flex priorities, communicate clearly, and focus on what matters most in the moment.
The people and organizations that thrive through change aren’t necessarily the most skilled or experienced. They’re the ones who stay calm, adjust quickly, and keep moving forward even when the future feels uncertain.
Change is guaranteed, but chaos doesn’t have to be. Yes, change will test your focus, stress your systems, and sometimes feel overwhelming. But with the right mindset and practical strategies, you can continue to be productive—both as an individual and as part of a team.
Instead of letting change derail you, use it as an opportunity to clarify priorities, strengthen communication, and build resilience. Productivity isn’t about doing more; it’s about doing the right things—even when the ground beneath you is shifting.