The shift from micromanagement: Is customised tech the key to better productivity?

This post has been written by David Fletcher and Larraine Solomon , colleagues who are interested in understanding how innovative technology is shaping the future of the workplace.

Not that many years ago, large organisations would restrict the external websites that employees were able to access during work hours.?Bosses were concerned that employees could “waste their time looking at social media or arranging holidays''.?These days, while companies are likely to set out guidelines about what is - and is not - acceptable, in most organisations this approach is outdated and now the emphasis is on achieving agreed objectives as opposed to the need to monitor people closely.

It has taken a bit longer for organisations to relinquish their traditional ‘command and control’ cultures – where the boss was the only decision maker and communicator.?Nowadays, employees are often encouraged and empowered to ‘use their voice’, either through a technology-based solution or by participating in physical events.??

This change in freedom has brought? a sense of empowerment and autonomy often with extremely positive results. Hubspot and Netflix are high profile examples of this - famed for cultivating an empowering, ‘candid’ culture, resulting in innovation and the ability to attract top talent.?When employees feel their voices are heard, they tend to be more productive and feel more connected and loyal to their organisations.?

Parallels in this shift can be seen when we look at the adoption of productivity tools and software outside of the corporate workplace.?A growing number of people are tapping into innovative best in class personal productivity tools to make their lives easier and enable them to be more efficient and productive.?

Notion is just one of a number of tools that start-ups and individuals are using to improve the way they organise themselves, and it's a great example of the future of productivity. If you are not familiar with Notion, it’s a single space where you can think, write, and plan but its success is often cited as its flexibility. The ability to integrate pretty much anything seamlessly allows the creator to be in complete control and removes barriers and friction where possible.? .??

Tools like this that are flexible and highly customisable represent a shift in the way we use software in our personal lives as well as what we have come to desire and even expect from our business lives

For those in the tech sphere and newer generations entering the workforce such as? Gen Z, the use of software in daily life to be more productive is already here. Yet most organisations restrict what is available in the workplace, and familiar tools that could drive productivity and business success are unavailable.?But what if we changed that??Are we ready to relinquish control a bit more to enhance productivity (without compromising security)?

What if our employee experience solutions enabled users or companies to choose the project management tool, calendar, task management software or even document management solution they want to use instead of being forced by the platform or organisation??

It’s a concept that the team at Appspace are currently experimenting with. The idea is to enable employees to be able to customise their experience by integrating the very best external technology that they enjoy using, into their daily routine. Rather than feeling ‘forced to use tools they are not familiar with or they deem inadequate for the task in hand’, they will be able to choose what they are able to use.?Of course limitations will always exist, but by widening the scope of tools available to them users will likely be more productive and efficient with their time and work.?

The bottom line

By extending a degree of software choice, companies could empower employees, potentially driving innovation and boosting efficiency.? Is this the future of work?

We want your opinions and we will use these to discuss this topic further!? Please let us know which option you believe is most true or comment below.

1. True empowerment leads to innovation.
2. Change begins with shifting mindsets.
3. This IS the future of work.