In the rapidly evolving world of productivity, prominent figures like Sarkis Kalashian, VP of Product at Smartsheet, stress the importance of changing outdated perceptions of success. Kalashian focuses on a concept he calls the “visibility” of work, arguing that merely doing more doesn’t necessarily mean achieving more.
Kalashian has observed organizations investing heavily in tools and manpower. Yet, despite these investments, productivity hasn’t always improved. He believes the issue isn’t a lack of effort but rather inadequate measurement. “We haven’t fully caught up to the technology. We haven’t organised our cultures, our incentive systems, our ways of measuring success. Sixty-eight percent of UK leaders still equate being busy with success, essentially,” Kalashian points out.
Recent research from Smartsheet reveals that UK teams lose one workday per week due to “busy work” — tasks that do not contribute to meaningful outcomes. This unnecessary workload costs businesses significantly, approximately £12,000 in lost productivity per employee annually.
A contrasting view emerges from a 2025 LSE study, indicating that professionals using AI save around 7.5 hours weekly. However, 68% of employees still lack basic AI training. EY’s survey further highlights that although 83% now use Gen AI at work, only a small fraction leverage it for comprehensive workflow transformation. Kalashian suggests these findings reflect a gap between potential and practice.
The heart of the issue, according to Kalashian, is entrenched traditional mindsets. He recalls an incident early in his career where a compliment about being a “taskmaster” revealed a problematic cultural expectation. This mindset prioritizes task completion over actual progress, creating what he refers to as a “productivity tax.”
The phenomenon of “task masking” also emerges as a problem. Employees engage in visible, low-impact work to appear busy, driven by cultural pressures. IBM’s research underlines internal resistance as a significant barrier to AI rollouts, indicating deeper cultural challenges.
Kalashian advocates for a shift in focus from tasks to outcomes. “If you’re in a one-on-one with your team and you ask, ‘What did we get done this week?’, that’s oriented around tasks. But if you pivot towards outcomes: what did you drive forward? What risks did you tackle? What did you unblock? You start to frame questions around the more complex issues that drive results.” This perspective requires rethinking organizational workflows and how corporate goals are communicated.
Technological tools should facilitate cultural change rather than replace human elements. Smartsheet aligns with this philosophy through its Intelligent Work Management platform, unveiled at the 2025 ENGAGE conference.
Kalashian places global enterprise AI adoption on a spectrum, with varying degrees of integration and readiness. While the benefits of AI in boosting productivity are clear, with 80% of leaders acknowledging its impact, full integration is rare. The key lies in cohesive and seamless integration of AI into daily workflows.
He emphasizes the role of leadership in navigating this transformation. Leaders should model innovative behaviors and ensure their teams’ work is purposeful and aligned with broader goals. Kalashian’s approach is to lead by example, demonstrating efficient work models through personal involvement in tool usage.
Ultimately, this narrative signifies a paradigm shift from simply staying busy to achieving outcomes that contribute meaningfully to organizational goals. The journey to breaking free from the “busy bubble” involves a cultural and strategic overhaul with Smartsheet emerging as a guide for this important transition.
