No Secretto Improved Productivity

 There are thousands of articles, book - even blog posts - promising you the Top 5 (or 6 or 21) secrets to productivity.

However, I have disappointing news..  There is no one secret, no magic bullet, no productivity panacea.

Improving productivity takes real commitment - from the leaders of the organisation and infused throughout the organisation - a commitment to asking searching questions, examining systems, processes and working methods and to getting all staff to buy-in and participate in thinking up new ways to do old things.

Forget the promise of the ‘productivity revolution’.  Get the organisation thinking hard and working hard to ask - and then answer- all the difficult questions that need to be asked.

Is this the big success area for AI?

I am slightly sceptical about the great productivity gains suggested for AI.  I hope I am wrong but I think it may take quite some time before the ‘intelligence’ of AI gives solid results.  That is not to say that AI will not bring benefits, such as productivity improvements, only that we should not expect too much too soon.

There is ,though, one area/industry that seems ready for AI - healthcare.

Healthcare has a lot of bureaucracy and many medical and para-medical staff spend far too much of their time filling in forms, recording data and generally keeping the vast bureaucratic machine fed.  If we can reduce this feeding frenzy, we save time and increase job satisfaction (or at less reduce dissatisfaction and frustration).

We have also seen advances in areas such as diagnostic analysis resulting from machine learning (which is what a lot stuff we now call AI really is). Analysing large MRI and other scans is faster and more reliable using AI.  AI isn’t perfect at such analysis and subsequent diagnosis but tests suggest its success levels match or exceed those of most doctors.

The next stage is for AI to make recommendations as to further tests or even potential treatments.Such processes will improve over time as AI ‘learns from its mistakes’ and learns from actual outcomes.

AI is unlikely in the near term to take over any ‘hands on’ work of doctors and nurses.  But if it can reduce the ‘side load’ of bureaucracy and speed up diagnosis and determination of treatment, we could see quite large productivity gains in the relatively short-term future.

Healthy Employees Are Productive Employees

Many employees, when asked in job satisfaction surveys, express the view that they are constantly tired and often under stress. Even in organisations with standard work hours, employees are increasingly expected to be available during evenings, weekends, and vacations.

Now a degree of stress can be helpful in motivating and focusing employees but too much can result in tension and ill-health - both mental and physical.

Progressive employers recognise this and take measures to control stress levels, knowing it is good for the employees and good for the business. 

Workplaces should embrace a culture of self-care and relaxation, which enable employees to enjoy reduced stress, better rest, and an enhanced work-life balance, ultimately boosting overall well-being and productivity.

Of course, employees must know that any measures taken are genuine and based on appropriate values and respect for employees’ well-being.  They can recognise ‘lip service’ and inauthentic approaches and messages.

Rather than opting for time-consuming training programs on self care, leaders can benefit from training that focuses on creating an environment and culture conducive to well-being. The organisation can seek to  use technology to increase employee freedom without sacrificing productivity.

Employees can be encouraged to set realistic rest regimes both at work and at home - helped by a consistent bedtime regime.

Employees must realise that a major part of the solution to their problem lies in their own hands.  

The company helps and supports.

How Was The Pandemic for You?

It is apparent that many people gained a fresh perspective on their own lives during the pandemic.  They now want the mix of home and work life they enjoyed when forced to stay out of the office.  

I have written enough about my view of home and hybrid working - and its impact on the productivity of an organisation.   (Spoiler for those who did not read those posts : I think it is not helpful.)  

This time I want to approach the experience of the forced seclusion from a different angle.

Truly successful people constantly develop themselves alongside working for an employer - or they turn to running their own business.

How many of you during the pandemic:

- [ ] Learned a new skill

- [ ] Acquired new knowledge

- [ ] Planned a modified future for yourself and/or your family

If you did none of these, what were you doing?  Why were you wasting this glaring opportunity to improve your future? 

Of course, you can still do all of these -  but it is more difficult while holding down a full-time job.

Seize the day!