The world is obsessed with productivity. Everybody wants to know how we can get work done quickly with minimum effort, so we can lead a fulfilling life.
There are a huge number of apps that claim to increase productivity, but research suggests something that cannot be obtained from these apps – physical vitality.
The practice of work flexibility is in sharp contrast to the traditional approach where there is a defined set of work hours for everyone.
But the most important thing to keep in mind while implementing the flexible approach in any organisation is, to very closely assess the mutual benefits to both the employees and the organisation, otherwise it may lead to chaos and failure.
A recent study reported in the International Journal of Workplace Health says that, other than a good night sleep, exercise is the most effective productivity tool at our disposal. This report also mentions that people who exercised during the day time were 22% more productive.
Restore and Energize
It is a well known fact that the quality of work hours is more important than the quantity. Research shows that exercise build new connections among neurons of the brain that helps increase attention and focus.
Just like our smartphones, we need to recharge our batteries. This can be done through exercise, rest, play, pursuing your hobbies & passion that restores and energizes us.
As the old saying goes about the carpenter who didn’t have the time to stop and sharpen his axe ended up doing the work slower than his partner who was smart enough to take time off and sharpen his tool. This enabled him to do his work faster and more effectively.
How to Implement Work Flexibility Without Compromising on Productivity
Work flexibility does not mean coming and going as you please. It is a well-structured well planned framework . It needs to be well aligned with the values and mission of the organisation . The employees need to be tuned in and proper training provided. The first step is to choose the appropriate flexible work management based on the needs and requirements of both the organisation and the employees.
Compressed Work Week
Compressed work week involves working the same number of hours in a week but in fewer days. Most of the organizations have five working days with eight hours working each day. Under the compressed workweek schedule, the employees could choose to work ten hours everyday for four days and take the extra day off.
FlexTime
This gives the employees complete right to choose where to work and how many hours to work. Most organizations who follow this, have set some core working hours that they expect the employees to work . They have a good system in place to track remote working, through IP based attendance that helps to maintain great culture that fosters productivity while encouraging flexibility.
Customise to Meet Your Needs
Before implementing the flexible work hours structure, talk to your team. Ask for their inputs and analyse their needs. When this is done along with the decision making process, the flexible time management can be made a success. The employees get to enjoy the benefits that come along with this while the productivity and work quality still remains the best.
Tips for the Team to Attain Work Life Balance
Set Clear Cut Goals
This will allow us to be more focused and productive at work. Know exactly the work that needs to be completed and the timeline for the completion.
Take Ownership For Your Work
For some, total autonomy can lead to sloppy work as they are used to someone supervising them all the time. Be accountable and responsible towards your work.
Respect boundaries
Separate your work life from your personal life. Never discuss work related stuff at home and vice-versa.
Plan your day
Always have a to do list with you. Plan the day the night before and set priorities.
Vacations with family
Plan vacations with family. Spending quality time with family and friends will get you re-energized and come back to office with new zeal and enthusiasm.
Anger and stress
Anger and stress are hazardous to performance. As much as possible to achieve efficiency at work, we need to work on our emotional intelligence. Positive emotions build interest and energize. Negative emotions restrict thinking. A person with a positive outlook are more satisfied with work and this in turn increases productivity.
An alarming report from a research conducted in 2018, states that people spend an average of 2.8 hours only on productive tasks per day. The rest of the day is spent on neutral activities and distracting activities!
It also states that only 70% of the work gets done in the normal working hours.
Biggest Threats to Work Life Balance
Workplace distractions, wasting time and simply being inefficient are all eating into your work life balance. The biggest offender to maintaining a good work life balance is found to be the habit of Checking e-mail and IM frequently. Most people are spending quality office time on checking email and other communications tool. 21% of our working hours is spent on our devices for entertainment, news and social media.
Our Ultimate Goal
The line between work and all other things in life is becoming increasingly blurred. We have less time than we usually think, and we end up working later in the evenings and on weekends just to catch up. The more we are able to set the boundaries on our workdays and counteract the distractions, multitasking and communication overload that take away our precious productive time, the more we can stay healthier, happier and find a balance.
Life @ PQube
At PQube, we understand the significance of maintaining a work-life balance. It all starts with setting up the ground rules first viz communication and proper training. We utilize a task management software, that helps us to be accountable and encourages work-life balance. Our performance oriented work culture allows our team to spend time on their personal pursuits while still engaging in meaningful work. To accomplish this everyone in the team is aware of their goals and what is expected from them, at the same time they are accountable for those outcomes.