Doing the Right Things Right by Laura Stack Summary

Doing the Right Things Right by Laura Stack provides actionable strategies for leaders to balance efficiency (executing tasks correctly) and effectiveness (prioritizing high-impact goals). The book combines productivity frameworks, real-world examples, and tools to help professionals eliminate time-wasters, focus on critical objectives, and drive measurable results in high-pressure environments. Stack emphasizes reducing distractions, optimizing workflows, and empowering teams to align daily actions with organizational priorities.

This book is ideal for executives, managers, entrepreneurs, and professionals seeking to maximize productivity while maintaining strategic focus. It’s particularly valuable for leaders in fast-paced industries, teams grappling with burnout or inefficiency, and individuals aiming to improve time management, delegation, and decision-making skills. Stack’s insights cater to both seasoned professionals and emerging leaders.

Yes — the book is praised for its practical, no-nonsense approach to productivity. Stack’s blend of research-backed methods, case studies, and humor makes complex concepts accessible. Readers gain actionable tactics to streamline workflows, reduce stress, and achieve sustainable success. Its emphasis on “doing less better” resonates in overloaded work cultures.

Key frameworks include:

• The Efficiency-Effectiveness Matrix: Prioritize tasks based on urgency and impact.
• The Four Productivity Suckers: Identify and mitigate time-wasters like poor communication, cluttered systems, indecision, and low-value tasks.
• The RESULTS Model: A six-step system to align daily actions with long-term goals through focus, accountability, and feedback loops.

Stack argues that great leaders protect their team’s time by eliminating bureaucracy, clarifying priorities, and fostering autonomy. The book provides tools for delegation, communication, and creating a “high-value mindset” to empower teams to innovate without micromanagement. It also addresses sustaining productivity during organizational change.

• “Productivity isn’t about doing more — it’s about doing more of what matters.”
• “Reduce, reduce, reduce: trim tasks, tame tech, and protect your time.”
• “Efficiency without effectiveness is just busyness.”

These lines underscore the book’s focus on intentionality and strategic action.

The book offers tactics like auditing time expenditures, automating repetitive tasks, and implementing “focus blocks” for deep work. Stack also advocates for standardizing processes, reducing meeting overload, and leveraging technology to minimize manual work. Case studies show how these methods cut wasted time by 20–30%.

Unlike generic advice, Stack’s approach integrates leadership development with personal productivity. The book uniquely addresses team dynamics, offering scalable solutions for organizations rather than individual habits alone. Its focus on measurable outcomes and real-world adaptability sets it apart.

This book expands on themes from Faster Together (team productivity) and SuperCompetent (high-performance habits) by adding leadership-specific strategies. It synthesizes Stack’s 30 years of research into a unified system for organizational excellence, reflecting evolved insights on remote work and digital distractions.

Yes — Stack argues that true productivity creates space for personal time by eliminating inefficiencies. The book teaches readers to set boundaries, say “no” to low-impact tasks, and delegate effectively. Techniques like time-blocking and email management help reclaim 1–2 hours daily for non-work priorities.

Examples include a tech startup that doubled output by restructuring meetings, a healthcare team reducing errors through standardized workflows, and a Fortune 500 company boosting morale by aligning KPIs with employee strengths. Stack also shares anecdotes from her consulting career to illustrate frameworks.

The book includes updated strategies for remote collaboration, such as asynchronous communication protocols, virtual accountability systems, and tools to combat digital fatigue. Stack emphasizes clear goal-setting and trust-based leadership to maintain productivity across distributed teams.