Why you must be ok with inefficiency - for some things

Once upon a time when I was a PhD student, you would find me in the lab on weekends. Most of us grad students were lab rats and a holiday for others meant you got your work done peacefully. On one such weekend, I realised the value of inefficiency.

The world and productivity manuals want you to maximize every hour.

Efficiency goals are around doing more in the same time, making something cheaper, or faster, or a cocktail of these. These work for well understood functions such as an assembly line. This allows non chefs to assemble your fast food at most chains. However, it doesn't work when you're trying to break new ground.

Back to my lab - one fine weekend, I was working on an experiment. We were exploring a new materials set for the display industry. I went through my standard tests considerably fast but for some reason decided to spend more time with them under the microscope. There was no reason for that except that I LOVE microscopy.

Unexpectedly, I recorded an interesting observation that eventually turned into a deeper collaboration with another professor's team. Our work resulted in journal papers, international conference presentations including a keynote at a highly prestigious conference. All because I was "wandering" in the lab.

No design of experiments can predict the discoveries you will make.

To innovate, we need to dedicate time where we let ourselves in a state of exploration. In a hyper efficient world, that's hard to do. It goes against the grain and the brain.

I recommend allocating a small percentage of your time for creative wandering.

Become a tourist during those times. Learn something the slow way. Spend time in a different department understanding their ways. This may make your colleagues wonder but it's alright. Promise to share your learnings with them and they'll be supporters.

Efficiency works for areas where you want known results. Innovation and invention originate from inefficient approaches.

Make time and be at peace with a little bit of inefficiency - it pays off ??