Who is Shreyas Doshi?
Born in Mumbai, India, Shreyas Doshi obtained a degree in computer engineering, went to the United States to pursue a PhD in computer science, and joined the tech industry by helping startups as a software engineer.
After attending many customer meetings, he was introduced to solving product issues himself, and eventually fully transitioned to product management. Over the years, Shreyas has become one of the most influential voices in product management, sharing insights that have transformed how PMs work and think.
Shreyas is now known as an impressive source of valuable information and insights regarding tech.
While working at Google, Shreyas discovered the LNO Framework, a new way of differentiating tasks as a product manager. By prioritising your tasks and allocating more time and effort to what really matters, you can get more things done efficiently.
If you're searching for the LNO Framework for product managers, Shreyas's LNO method, or effective ways to prioritise tasks, this guide will help you understand and apply this framework to your work.
What is the LNO framework?
See it as a new, improved method to fight procrastination and set up your task list differently. Anyone can use this method to improve productivity, not just product managers!
Unlike other prioritisation methods like the Eisenhower Matrix, the LNO framework not only stresses time, but also quality.
"I spent my first three years as a relatively new Product Manager at Google feeling overwhelmed and stressed. Even as I was getting promoted, I didn’t feel great about how I worked. This only changed when I realised that all tasks are not created equal." - Shreyas Doshi on Lenny’s Podcast
It’s a fact: tasks are not created equal, so they shouldn’t be treated as such.
Tasks aren’t equally important, so why do we list them with the same weight?
This framework's main question regarding tasks is: "How impactful will the result of this task be for my business?" The focus here is to allocate the most effort to those that multiply your impact and spend less on easy, quick tasks that could have taken more if no such prioritization system was in place.
Breaking down the LNO framework
The LNO Framework classifies tasks in 3 different types:
Leverage “L” tasks
They are the ones you need to focus on the most and that deserve your best efforts. They create 10x or even 100x returns on investment. This is the type of task you want to achieve in the best way possible, to produce an exquisite piece of work.
💡 Give these tasks your best effort. Perfectionism is welcome here.
Neutral “N” tasks
They require you to do your job, just as you would normally do: strictly perfect. This type of task usually requires time more than abilities (being in charge of meeting notes, refining virtual workspace).
💡 Do these tasks with usual efficiency, so you have more time for Leverage.
Overhead “O” tasks
On the other hand, O tasks must be done, without really putting effort into quality. Think of it as an important task that can be done quickly, without much thinking. Many perfectionists waste time on these, but in reality, an "OK" job is often good enough.
💡 Spend minimal time here. Done is better than perfect.
Applying the LNO framework to your work
To see the LNO Framework in action, let’s compare two versions of a daily product manager’s to-do list.
Now, your time and energy are allocated strategically.
More than a way to gain more time for the most important tasks, LNO allows to organise your time better by defining what needs more or less focus.
Shreyas says that most product managers that don’t apply this framework sometimes work more on execution issues rather than refining strategy, which is why they “don’t have time.” By categorising tasks appropriately, professionals can focus on what really matters and have more meaningful outcomes.
Common pitfalls of prioritisation
Prioritising what to do and what to focus on is at the core of the LNO framework, and Shreyas has a significant experience in fine-tuning teams by leading them the right way.
However, there are some pitfalls when it comes to prioritisation, and you can get it wrong even with a system like LNO:
- Spending too much time sorting tasks
- Treating every task like it’s critical
- Forgetting real-world limits like time and resources
In Lenny Rachitsky’s podcast, Shreyas shared why many companies get prioritisation wrong. He suggests focusing on minimising opportunity cost rather than relying only on good ROI. He showcases Lenny and the audience a formula to define if you prioritise correctly:
(Value created - Cost of your time) / Time taken
This formula makes it easier to pick tasks that are more important, and put more value into your work when thinking about low opportunity costs.
For Shreyas, being only ROI-focused makes you ask yourself “am i doing the right thing?”
Low opportunity cost focus makes you ask yourself: “is this the best thing I could be doing?”
Prioritisation mistakes often spread beyond the individual. Learn how they impact the bigger picture in our guide to unlocking organisational excellence.
The key to long term success
The LNO framework is a mindset, and each week brings new priorities. That’s why you need to keep asking yourself: “Is this task really worth my time?”
Shreyas recommends checking in often. What used to be a leverage task might become neutral. What felt urgent last week might no longer matter. The real key is to stay intentional and turn the LNO framework into a habit.
Shreyas also suggests changing your environment for deep focus. For example, move to a coworking space instead of your usual office when working on L tasks to avoid distractions and signal to your brain that it’s time to focus.
As Shreyas says, our job isn’t to chase short-term wins or please peers, it’s to define products that succeed. The LNO framework is a powerful reminder of that mission.
Key takeaways
Needless to say we could think of a wide variety of tasks when it comes to being a product manager. Even if the to-do list seems to never end, this is what drives the passion for product: continuous discovery, strategy refining, detailing and managing tasks.
More than one of multiple frameworks you can put in place to better your product management skills, managing your tasks following LNO also helps you take more time for oneself, and serves as a reminder that not all tasks need to be stellar: overhead tasks are meant to take less time and effort.
“This framework improved the quality of my life as a PM & my work more than anything else I’ve encountered.” - Shreyas Doshi on Twitter
Increase your impact and take complete control of your life by using LNO!
LNO is one of many frameworks to improve your impact. See more strategies to become a better product manager in our practical guide.
Last updated in March 2025.
