How to Measure Productivity at Work
Do you set daily, quarterly, or yearly goals? Goals are essential for discussing productivity, as they form the foundation for how productivity is measured. In the modern workplace, digital tools make it easy to track progress, but they also bring the risk of excessive monitoring, which can sometimes hinder productivity. In this post, we’ll explore useful apps and share some tips on maintaining productivity without overwhelming employees.
16 task management apps you should know about
If you search for "best task management apps" on Google, you'll find numerous lists and recommendations. One such list from Forbes Advisor highlights 10 top-rated apps for 2024:
We also consulted ChatGPT, which offered these additional suggestions: Trello, Asana, Todoist, Microsoft To Do, Wrike, Basecamp, and Quire. To choose the right app, it’s essential to understand your team’s specialization and requirements. You should look for an app with easy registration, user-friendly navigation, collaborative features, and a price plan that suits your needs.
Let’s explore two popular tools, Asana and Notion, to see how they stack up.
Asana:
Notion:
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While both tools are powerful, Notion stands out with its extensive template library, while Asana is noted for its strong task tracking capabilities. Both apps offer free plans, but premium tiers vary by features like page history length and guest access. The best way to choose? Try both (or any other) and see which fits your workflow.?
Monitoring and privacy concerns
While task management apps can boost productivity, work-time monitoring apps raise privacy concerns. Harvard Business Review describes a monitoring nightmare. In April 2020, a social-media marketing company in Florida installed software on employees' work computers to take screenshots of their desktops every 10 minutes and record how much time they spent on different activities. The company used this data to assess productivity levels and identify rule-breakers. Similarly, Amazon tracks smartphone data for its delivery drivers to monitor efficiency and flag unsafe driving practices. These examples are becoming increasingly common.
According to an August 2022 Wall Street Journal article, "Should Companies Track Workers With Monitoring Technology?" 60% of large companies now use monitoring tools, compared to only 30% before the pandemic. Monitoring can affect employee trust— Forbes reports that one in four employees say workplace surveillance makes them uncomfortable. According to Forbes, 31 percent of workers feel the weight of micromanagement, perceiving every click and keystroke as being under scrutiny. The Forbes data also indicates that “the same monitoring practices may contribute to a 13% increase in feelings of burnout and extended work hours, suggesting that the quest for productivity through surveillance might have counterproductive outcomes”. Since online monitoring can lead employees to feel increased burnout and micromanagement, finding a balance between productivity tools and privacy is essential.
Defining productivity
The Cambridge Dictionary defines “productivity” as “the rate at which a company or country makes goods, usually judged in connection with the number of people and the amount of materials necessary to produce the goods.” McKinsey points out that we face two major challenges of the 21st century: closing the empowerment gap and achieving net zero. Meeting these challenges requires a significant increase in productivity. McKinsey Global Institute research indicates that bridging these gaps will demand annual investments equivalent to 8 percent of global GDP—a target that’s difficult to achieve without rapid productivity growth.
McKinsey experts highlight two key factors that drive productivity. As explained in McKinsey Insights, “Two factors typically drive labor productivity. The first is the amount of capital per worker, which can be tangible, like machines or infrastructure, or intangible, like software. For example, an office worker is more productive with a laptop, and a construction worker with a crane. The second factor is human capital: the education, abilities, and accumulated experience of workers.”
Notably, employee monitoring is not mentioned as a driver of productivity. Before trying to control each employee’s steps, companies might consider focusing on what genuinely enhances productivity.
Balancing productivity tools with privacy is crucial for a healthy workforce. While task management apps can enhance efficiency, excessive monitoring can undermine trust and lead to burnout. Companies should focus on tools that promote employee growth and autonomy, ensuring productivity without compromising morale. Building a culture of trust and shared purpose can lead to sustainable results.
Yes, I do set different levels of goals ?? Thanks for the useful list of task management apps, I will add some of them to my blog overview as well. ??