Productivity & the office debate; It's time to ask some different question!
Abigail Barnes
? Fractional CMO | Productivity Transformation Coach | Global Speaker | Author | Podcast Host | Reminding you that It’s Your Time (use it or lose it)
'Working from home makes you more productive.'
'Working from the office makes you more productive.'
'Working on the train makes you more productive.'
'Working from the bath makes you more productive.'
We're all unique, both culturally, educationally, locationally & perspectively...
Why would there be a one size fits all answer to the BEST place to work question?
AND how is productivity actually connected to a 'work' location?
Let's get some new data with the following 4 questions:
* Question 1
What is it about the location that you're working from that helps you to focus on what you're doing?
* Question 2
What activity are you doing when you work from that location?
* Question 3
Is where you work activity dependent? (Do you feel like you always need to work from that location, or do you find other locations help you to be more creative, inspired, connected).
* Question 4
How does where you work, and when you work affect your perspective, productivity, energy, mental health and your happiness?
"When you don't ask the right questions, the answers you get don't create the change you/your organisation your team, your stakeholders want or need." Abigail Barnes
Q. Are you more productive working from home or in the office?
From my research and work with clients, the connection is not that simple.?
When an individual can focus for 90 mins at a time they will enter what Cal Newport calls the Deep Work state in his book by the same title. They will become more productive, because of the deep focus they can achieve.?
How easy is it to find a distraction free location in this day and age? Or to create one for that matter?
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Q. Where are you more productive?
An office supports team work, collaboration and innovation. It’s impossible to replicate that online, energetic connection is an IRL thing (in real life) and necessary for certain activities. Therefore where you work is task related, and productivity is the result.
Can you achieve the deep work state in an office?
During my 10 year plus corporate career I could, but only between 7.30-9am or 7-9.30pm, when the office was quiet.?
In many ways the open plan office allowed for more connection, collaboration and innovation but removed the quiet space an office provided.
When I was studying for my degree the only place I could concentrate was in a small cubicle in the Library, because it was sound proofed and there were no distractions in there.
In my opinion 2020 has raised the question: What 'should' the office of the future look like (the layout) to support the talent of today and tomorrow?
"If we change the way we look at work, then the way we work, where we work, and how we work can change." Abigail Barnes
Productivity follows innovation, not repetition!?
When you last surveyed your workforce did you asked them any version of the questions I listed above?
The answer to most questions isn't one or the other, it's usually, it depends. Does/could your survey allow for that answer?
Final thought are your Managers and Leaders able to demonstrate/support their teams and talent to investigate/shape and create this new world of work?
What are your thoughts, leave a comment below and let's evolve this conversation, or reach out to me in a DM (direct message) I'd love to hear from you.
See you next week
Abigail
Training to support your next steps.
Abigail Barnes is the Author of Time Management for Entrepreneurs & Professionals
?? It is the ultimate 5-step guide to turning time into productivity and reclaiming an hour a day. CLICK HERE ?to buy your copy.
"Abigail’s book is a mindset changer. I read the book cover to cover in one day and have implemented so many changes to my life and mindset. Time management is the key to getting more done. Abigail’s book is thought provoking and challenging, throughly recommend it to anyone who wants to be successful in more than one area of their life." Kev Orkian
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Inspiring Communicators & High Performing Cultures | Driving Business with Soul | Speaker-Host | Author: The Mindful Communicator & Brand Alchemy | Brand Activation-Thought Leadership | Presentation Coach | Theatre Maker
2 年A really important debate for everyone who leads a team ? Abigail Barnes Productivity Expert/Strategic Marketing Advisor. Knowing how to get the very best out of people individually and collectively is so vital in these times - if we’re to hold on to our best people.
Director Of Strategic Support at Purple Frog Systems Ltd | Power BI Sentinel UK Ltd
2 年There is so much being asked. Words been used which will have definitions which differ from person to person. Example. What is productivity? As defined by the employer, the employee, the contracted or contractor? Based on a performance measure of time, return on investment of you or the party requiring the response. Does where you work really have any impact? Do we look for an excuse for choosing to work where ’WE’ think we are most productive even though we know it’s not. Has 2020 really changed the question? Or, did it make the global world undertake the biggest project ever through need? Remote working. We all heard it. Boards saying it can’t be done, the technology isn’t ready, we need people in the office. But when you couldn’t travel as a person and the business needed to survive we all dug deep into our reserves and optimistic-pessimistic views and showed we could! We are now moving onward in the same global world but with perceived new norms. But are they or have we just leapt forward due to natures interception in human development? Abigail. As you say we all have the same 24hrs in a day. There is no buying more or bartering. As there is no extending how many characters - I have reached the limit.