Look After Them

 I saw in a recent survey that people who thought their productivity had increased (or at least stayed the same) whilst working from home during the pandemic, also reported that their mental well-being had improved.

This could suggest that high productivity makes people feel better about themselves or conversely that poor mental health results in poor productivity.

The third possibility (and perhaps most likely) is that both are true.

This in turn suggests that companies if you want high productivity from your WFH workforce, you should pay attention to, and put resources into, the psychological

well-being of your workers, especially into supporting those that are feeling isolated and need social contact to replace the ‘office vibe’.

When thinking about a return to office working, perhaps a structured, hybrid approach is best - choosing the work location according to the project/task being worked on.

So, not one, not the other, but an appropriate blend of remote and home working might best replace what you have now.

Its not technology driving productivity up

People often claim that technology is the key to improved productivity.  Firms should, they say, be investing in digital services, robotics, AI, IoT and so on.  

Generally, there does seem to be a correlation between investment in technology and productivity improvement.

Case proved, then?

Well … not necessarily.

I learned many years ago that correlation is not necessarily causation.

From my experience, I would read things differently.

Firms often look at technology investments when:

• they have analysed processes and identified ways of  streamlining systems, processes and procedures;

• the labour market is very tight and they are having trouble finding employees with the right skills;

• labour is expensive.

Only the first of these is really a direct win for technology - and perhaps that should be put down as a win for systematic process analysis and improvement.  The other two are direct results of a tight labour market.  

This is what really drives technology adoption and forces you to look at productivity.

Don't be overwhelmed

Many people feel overwhelmed at work.  The relentless tide of messages and emails seems to set an impossible agenda.

So, we need to improve our time management, right?

 Wrong!

If you create more space by better organisation, ‘other stuff’ will be re-prioritised and re-arranged and you’ll soon be overwhelmed again.If you show your boss you can complete more then others, s/he’ll give you more to do.

The answer, therefore, is to focus

Make sure you know what is essential to the organisational or departmental mission.

Then determine what outcomes you need to deliver to contribute to that mission.

If you can achieve (most of) those outcomes, you’ll change from being overwhelmed to  being very busy but satisfied.  Your sense of achievement will take over.  You’ll probably do more as well.

The Art of Productivity

For some people, art plays an important part in their lives. I’m not talking about ‘the arts’ - if I was, that first statement would probable apply to just about everybody - but to the visual arts.

What about art in business?

Well, art can obviously transform a working environment but it can also stimulate, excite and inspire staff - and, of course, it makes a statement about the organisation and its leadership.

Displays of creativity can inspire workers to unleash their own inner creativity, improving approaches to innovation. And how about having a ‘drawing wall’ where workers can add their own creative touches to the environment?

And if your office receives lots of visitors - especially customers and potential customers - works of art send them a message about you and your breadth of vision; your commitment to things others than profit.

I’m not saying that investing in art can transform your productivity  but I am saying that investing in art can change the way in which your staff, and your customers, think about you and the organisation.