Discussing productivity in Harvard Business Review’s 'Conversation' blog, Tony Schwartz asks, "Is more, bigger, faster for longer necessarily better?"
Schwartz highlights the paradox that Americans are working 10 percent fewer total hours than they did before the recession, due to layoffs and shortened workdays, but are producing nearly as many goods and services as they did back in the full employment days of 2007.
He puts this down to fear: "We can't help worrying that our jobs may be next. Our survival instincts kick in, and we push ourselves harder, so we're not the next one to go. We get more done, which sounds like good news and certainly explains higher productivity."
However, the prospect of burnout can negate the value of boosted productivity in these circumstances. Schwartz points out that studies have linked working more than 50 hours with lack of sleep, less physical activity, less job satisfaction and, as a result, worse performance.
What's more, the author, who is CEO of consultancy The Energy Project, says his company has consistently observed that the longer and more continuously people work, the less marginal return is gained from each additional hour, and the worker becomes increasingly alienated and disengaged.
Explaining how ineffective working at full capacity can be, Schwartz says: "When you're running as fast as you can, what you sacrifice is attention to detail, and time to step back, reflect on the big picture, and truly think strategically and long-term."
Ultimately, the conclusion is that a new way of working is needed, where leaders understand that more is not necessarily better and that "rest, renewal, reflection, and a long-term perspective are also critical to fuelling value that lasts".
Schwartz advises: "If you're a leader, here's where you need to start: Stop measuring your people by the hours they put in, and focus instead on the value they produce. Make that your primary measurement. Then encourage your people to intermittently renew during the day (and on weekends, and over vacations), so that when they're working, they're really working. That's the path to true productivity."
The Productivity Myth
Tony Schwartz, HBR Conversation Blog, 05/05/10
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