The approach of organizations to employee productivity is unclear, as merely capturing the 'Golden Hour of Productivity' is insufficient!
Nicolas BEHBAHANI
Global People Analytics & HR Data Leader - People & Culture | Strategical People Analytics Design
?? 96% of C-suite leaders say they expect the use of AI tools to increase their company’s overall productivity levels.
?? Executives are urging employees to increase their output using AI and other methods. Although 69% of C-suite executives recognize that employees are finding it difficult to meet productivity expectations, 84% insist that their companies prioritize employee well-being above productivity.
? Many leaders are dissatisfied with the degree to which AI is being effectively integrated into operations. Half of the executives at AI-utilizing companies perceive that their company lags behind competitors (51%) and attribute stagnation in overall workforce productivity to a deficiency in employee skills and adoption (50%).
?? Alarmingly, one in three employees report they are likely to resign within the next six months due to burnout or excessive workloads, according to a new interesting research published by Upwork in collaboration with Walr using data ?? from 2,500 global C-suite executives, full-time employees, and freelancers in the U.S., UK, Australia, and Canada between April 16 and May 5, 2024.
?Pressure on employees has increased
Researchers found that 81% of C-suite executives report that, over the past year, they have expected workers to increase their output with the help of AI tools (37%), expand their skill sets (35%), take on a wider range of responsibilities (30%), return to the office (27%), work with greater efficiency (26%), and work more hours (20%).
?The measurement of productivity is not clear
Researchers have found that 44% of employees feel their company lacks an accurate understanding of their productivity. A significant majority indicate they would be happier (81%) and more efficient (76%) if they could influence the way their productivity is assessed.
74% of employees think that their organization's method of evaluating productivity requires a complete revamp.
?What are the Golden Hour of Productivity?
?? Researchers found that, across various organizational levels, most individuals experience peak productivity between 10 am and 1 pm, with a gradual decrease in productivity as the day goes on.
?? Individual contributors frequently report greater productivity in the early morning, indicating that commuting during these times could adversely affect their productivity.
领英推荐
Additionally, researchers observed that Monday and Tuesday emerged as the days when people felt most productive.
In my view, researchers have identified two key imperatives for business leaders aimed at disrupting the status quo and achieving a balance between traditional and non-traditional work approaches:
?? Co-create measures of productivity:
AI, and frankly people, can deliver success measures that go beyond quantity and speed. When workers are more involved in co-creating the measures against which their productivity is evaluated, we see a greater emphasis on creativity and innovation, customer relationship building, and adaptability—attributes that executives believe are important and contribute to the bottom line. By aligning co-created outcomes to AI programs, leaders can clarify the AI productivity expectations and goals of the business, better balancing the needs of both the business and workforce.
?? Build fluency in the language of skills:
The implementation of AI has brought about a renewed urgency to move toward skills-based approaches in which the focus of talent strategy is more centered on finding, building, and rewarding skills rather than on job roles. However, many organizations have had trouble putting this into practice
?? It should be noted that the researchers point out the advantage of freelancers but because they use a large number in their dataset, I don't take them into account. In my opinion, organizations should rather use their own employees rather than calling on temporary people like freelancers.
?? ???? ???????????????? ????????:
This interesting research has uncovered intriguing insights into the measurement of productivity. It reveals that both AI and people can deliver success metrics that surpass mere quantity and speed. When employees are actively engaged in co-creating the criteria for assessing their productivity, there is a heightened focus on creativity, innovation, building customer relationships, and adaptability—qualities that executives deem significant and beneficial to the bottom line.
Thank you ?? Upwork researchers team for these insightful findings:
?? Follow me as a LinkedIn Top Voice on LinkedIn (+40 000) , and click the ?? at the top of my profile page to stay on top of the latest on new best?HR, People Analytics, Human Capital and Future of Work research, become more effective in your HR function and support your business, and join the conversation on my posts.
???Join?more than 18,000+ people and subscribe to receive my Weekly People Research
Everyday, I share a new research article about?People Analytics, Human Capital, HR analytics, Human Resources, Talent,…
Human Capital Management Consultant | Executive Coach | Executive Search | Psychologist ??
3 个月Thanks for sharing
Work shouldn't suck, so design a better employee experience!
3 个月Nicolas BEHBAHANI thank you for sharing this research on productivity. I think I have seen several other research studies which highlight a disconnect between the C-Suite and employees on the employee experience.
Human Resource Professional | MBA | Coporate Recruiting Professional- ASA | Ex-Wirtgen Group,A John Deere Company
3 个月Very informative! Involving employees in designing productivity measures can lead to more accurate and motivating assessments. When workers participate in defining how their productivity is measured, they are more likely to feel valued and understood, which can boost engagement and efficiency. However, it's important to balance the focus on AI and productivity with employee well-being. High productivity should not come at the expense of mental health. Leaders should ensure that AI tools are used to alleviate workloads and enhance capabilities, rather than just increasing demands. Thank you for sharing.
Certified Executive Coach | Succession Planning | Performance Management | Employee Engagement
3 个月As Stephen Covey had famously pointed out, merely trying to increase Production without a corresponding increase in Production Capability will only lead to substandard and inconsistent results. Managers would do well to focus on capability enhancement, creating psychological safety at the workplace, a focus on employee wellness and providing learning opportunities to their team members in order to bring about sustainable, long-term growth and business results.
Product Development ?? | Project Management??| Operations Management ?| Continuous Improvement?? | Truck radial tire??
3 个月Nicolas BEHBAHANI I appreciate you bringing attention to this crucial topic. The statistics you've presented paint a vivid picture of the current state of productivity expectations and employee well-being in organizations. What I particularly liked about your post is the emphasis on the need for a balanced approach. The highlight on co-creating productivity measures and building fluency in the language of skills resonates strongly with me. It's clear that simply focusing on output or trying to capture a "Golden Hour of Productivity" isn't enough in today's complex work environment. To add to your points, I believe organizations should also consider: 1. Flexible work arrangements that align with individual productivity patterns 2. Investing in AI literacy programs for all employees to ensure effective integration 3. Regular check-ins on employee well-being to prevent burnout and high turnover