The 40-Hour Work Week Is Dead

Work Harder and Longer if You Want to Achieve More, Right? WRONG!

In 2006, fresh out of college, I was at a crossroads, deciding where to start my career in finance and accounting. My options were government, public accounting, and industry. Each offered its own benefits and perks, but they all shared one common requirement: "butts in chairs" for no less than 40 hours per week in a physical office setting.

For those familiar with the public accounting industry, its reputation for grueling, life-sucking hours is well-known. But as a millennial, I witnessed technology rapidly evolve, offering new ways to work. Additionally, I had my daughter at 20 years old, so flexibility was paramount for me.

When a corporate oil & gas gig boasted Fridays off twice a month, I was sold. Four workdays were better than five, even if they were longer. The golden handcuffs were real: great pay, phenomenal benefits, intriguing incentives. All I had to do was dress the part, fit into the corporate box, and make the commute to show up daily to stare at a computer for 10+ hours, minus a brief lunch break.

While I'm grateful for my corporate accounting experience and the insights into business processes, a level of depression set in almost immediately after I started. "This is my life now," I thought. "I get up, commute to work, sit in a chair for 10+ hours, rinse, wash, and repeat on the perpetual hamster wheel."

I became more and more disillusioned with this pervasive notion that physical presence in the office boosts productivity and goal achievement. There was an unwritten rule: if you wanted to get promoted, your butt better be in a chair as long as your boss's. Face-time was crucial, and remote working wasn't an option then.

As I spent longer in this archaic environment, while being young and open enough to concurrently learn loads about new ways of work, I realized that many of the corporate 'truths' around the 'butts in chairs' approach are actually myths. For starters, here's five of them:

Debunking Common Myths

1. Productivity: Being physically present in the office leads to higher productivity.
2. Accountability: Physical presence enhances accountability for getting work done and achieving results.
3. Better Problem Solving: Being in the office promotes team problem-solving.
4. Enhanced Collaboration: Physical presence fosters team collaboration.
5. Human Connection: Face-to-face interaction is essential for human connection.

After 20 years of practical experience, I began to understand that working smarter (not harder) gave me the time, freedom and energy to optimize both my personal and professional life. And once I experienced that, I wanted to help others explore it too.

You see, this dated mentality that we have to work harder for longer and be physically present to get ahead has a number of inherent flaws. Let's take a look:

Inherent Flaws with the "Butts in Chairs" Mentality

1. One Size Fits All: This approach assumes everyone works the same way, ignoring diverse experiences, talents and personalities.
2. Quantity Over Quality: It prioritizes physical presence and hours over quality, impact, and results.
3. Inflexibility: Rigidity around set office hours overlooks the need for flexibility to handle life's 24/7 demands.
4. Control Over Empowerment: It focuses on controlling hours worked rather than empowering employees.
5. Guaranteed Success: Simply putting in hours doesn't guarantee success. Success also depends on strategy, skill development, and adaptability.
6. Ignoring Health: This mindset often overlooks the importance of physical and mental health, leading to serious issues.
7. Creativity & Inspiration: Discipline is important, but creativity often stems from diverse experiences and stepping away can spark new ideas.

I left corporate and founded my own company, so that I could build the "life/work?? balance" I wanted for myself. And as I built my business, I instituted a culture that would promote and encourage this for my staff, and my clients. It's become our Massive Transformative Purpose.

Here's some of the things I've found that help me do this:

What Matters Most

• Define & Measure Success: Clearly define what success looks like at organizational and departmental levels and how it will be measured.
• Communication: Communicate frequently, directly, and clearly. Use technology to streamline and enhance.
• Empowerment & Collaboration: Give employees autonomy to achieve their goals.
• Flexibility & Rewards: Offer flexibility and reward people for working smarter. Many employees value time and flexibility over money.
• Embrace Diversity & Individuality: Recognize that everyone brings unique experiences, ideas, and expertise. Respect different priorities, values, and work styles.

The "butts in chairs" mentality is a construct from the past. It's not relevant anymore.

By focusing on clear success metrics, effective communication, empowerment, flexibility, and diversity, organizations can create a more productive, engaged, and innovative workforce.

This is what we believe at Ellevate Solutions, LLC , and it's how we do business. We're flipping the script.

I'll leave you with a quote from Arianna Huffington , that beautifully sums it up:

"We think, mistakenly, that success is the result of the amount of time we put in at work, instead of the quality of time we put in."