Think Productivity With Work From
Home Is Improving? Think Again.
Here’s What You Must Know
Tracy Brower, PhD
Contributor
I write about happiness, work-life fulfillment and the future of work.
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Jan 17, 2021,06:10pm EST
Listen to article8 minutes
Productivity may be hard to achieve with work from home.
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You’ve probably seen the press and the hype about work from home and the
amazing productivity that is accompanying these new work circumstances.
But is it real? In a couple words: Probably not. While there may be elements
that seem valid, there are other pieces that are suspect.
Productivity is important to organizations, of course. But it’s also important
to individuals. When people are efficient, they have a greater claim to
recognition, rewards and career growth—at least if their company doles out
these goodies equitably.
It is also worth mentioning that productivity isn’t the only evidence of
success—or even the most important. Performance is probably the better,
bigger concept—based partially based on productivity—but also including
engagement, commitment, learning, growth, innovation and contributions
to community as a whole. Productivity is part of a broader whole of overall
performance.
But productivity still counts as a metric that matters. With all that’s been
written about productivity, what counts most in the midst of the pandemic?
And if the claims of enormous productivity improvements aren’t real, what
is, and how can you create the conditions for productivity?
Here are some important considerations:
Panic Productivity And The Wall
Many of the reports of increased productivity were early in the pandemic.
Some have dubbed this “panic productivity,” attributing the early
perception of increased productivity to the adrenaline boost people got
from the sudden shifts in the nature and location of their work. Job loss
was rife, and people may have been working like crazy in the hopes of
staying visible, relevant and ensuring their boss thought they were still
adding value—even from home. But we’re hearing a lot of people are now
hitting a wall. They are tired, fed up and burned out. If their productivity
was high at first, it has declined as the pandemic has worn on and as the
stressors around them have mounted. Facilitating learning for children at
home, caring for loved ones and navigating all the new norms for work are
pressure points which have built over time and are unlikely to let up
anytime soon.
The solution: True and lasting productivity requires balance. Hard work
and dedication should be interspersed with time off to refresh and
rejuvenate.
The Time Equation
Productivity is a measure of how much people get done in a period of time.
The problem with some of the new work-from-home productivity reports is
they’re not accounting for the increasing hours people are working.
Employees may report they’re more productive, but we also know they’re
working more hours. So, it’s not that they’re actually packing more work
into the same envelope. In reality, they’re producing results during times
when they may have been commuting before. Or they’re finishing
deliverables at times when they might have been “off” in the past. The
proximity of work contributes to this dynamic. When there is a physical
separation between the office and home, it’s easier to turn off and set a
healthy boundary. But when work is at the kitchen table or the home office
next to the living room, it can be tougher to turn off—and therefore,
employees are working more hours—and producing more, but also making
a greater investment of time.
The solution: Cultivate a healthy boundary between work and non-work
activities. All work, all the time can dull the senses, sap motivation and lead
to burnout. People will have better overall performance when they are able
to invest time in both work and personal pursuits.
The Complexity Of Work
Another myth of productivity is related to the type of work people are
doing. One recent study showed people could be more productive on rote,
routine or repetitive work, but less so on work that was complex, urgent or
required problem solving. People may be able to finish aspects of their work
more productively—perhaps more administrative responsibilities. But they
can’t be at their most productive doing work that requires greater
sophistication.
The solution: Encourage people to consider where they do their best
work. Avoid assuming all work can be done most effectively regardless of
the location, and empower people to choose where they do their best
work. Create places where people want to be, so they are attracted to an
office where they can complete more complex work or problem solving.
Also support them in curating the best conditions in their home
environments. Bottom line: educate people and empower them, providing
plenty of choice and control about where they do their best work whether it
is more complex or more routine.
Collaboration
Productivity may also be better for many people for work that is truly
individual. When people must complete contemplative or heads-down
tasks, those with good work-from-home set-ups may see a bump in
productivity. However, when tasks involve collaboration, co-creation or
generative work, it is unlikely people can be as productive with their
colleagues at a distance, compared to working together in the office. Just
consider the coffee mugs, t-shirts and the mantra of 2020, “You’re on
mute.” While some virtual work has its virtues, people just cannot be as
effective when they’re collaborating on a remote basis for all their tasks, all
the time.
The solution: Help people form strong bonds with teammates and
encourage them to build relationships together. Ensure employees are
working together on meaningful tasks. These tactics will help them
collaborate whether they are working virtually or in person. As people get
back to the office, create places where they can collaborate and work
effectively with colleagues.
Individual Versus Organizational Productivity
Also consider the differences between individual and organizational
productivity. There may be some work that benefits from people expending
independent effort. Individual productivity is an important metric. But also
consider organizational productivity. One of the fundamental reasons
organizations exist is to add value for their customers and this requires
integrating work across individuals and teams. The value chain must be—
you know—a chain, connecting multiple tasks, responsibilities, projects and
processes to deliver solutions and innovations to the marketplace.
Ultimately, coming together helps ensure there is continuity and quality
across a chain. Individual productivity can only go so far. Organizational
productivity will rule the day when it comes to the companies that succeed
or fail.
The solution: Remind people of their contribution to the whole, the
company’s overall purpose and the customer. Reinforce the value of their
work and create opportunities for integration and cross-functional work.
While a quick glance at a hyped-up headline may seem convincing, it is
necessary to look beyond the top line. Realize productivity may actually be
deteriorating and know there is action you can take to shore up employees’
effectiveness.
In addition, consider quality of life. People may be able to struggle along
getting their work done, but they are also losing something in the equation.
As my friend Marla said, an important reward she gets from her work—
beyond her paycheck—is in the relationships she enjoys with co-workers.
Work is more than just cranking out the proverbial widget or the number of
keystrokes delivered. People must get something back, and a large part of
the return is in relationships, social capital and connections with
colleagues. This may be the biggest reason productivity can’t be at it’s best
working from home. We need each other and being together makes us
better in terms of our work and also in terms of our humanity—through our
connections with others
Bottom line: educate people and empower them, providing plenty of choice and control
about where they do their best work whether it is more complex or more
routine. Individual productivity can only go so far. Productivity Productivity may be
hard to achieve with work from home. This may be the biggest reason productivity
can’t be at it’s best working from home. Avoid assuming all work can be done most
effectively regardless of the location, and empower people to choose where they do
their best work. Individual productivity is an important metric. The solution:
Encourage people to consider where they do their best work. The Complexity Of Work
Another myth of productivity is related to the type of work people are doing. You’ve
probably seen the press and the hype about work from home and the amazing
productivity that is accompanying these new work circumstances. Here are some
important considerations: Panic Productivity And The Wall Many of the reports of
increased productivity were early in the pandemic. Individual Versus Organizational
Productivity Also consider the differences between individual and organizational
productivity. And if the claims of enormous productivity improvements aren’t real,
what is, and how can you create the conditions for productivity? With all that’s been
written about productivity, what counts most in the midst of the pandemic? The
problem with some of the new work-from-home productivity reports is they’re not
accounting for the increasing hours people are working. It is also worth mentioning
that productivity isn’t the only evidence of success—or even the most important
1. Learning : Every research/article should not be taken at its face value. Proper research needs
to be done before accepting