Okay, so unemployment is at 10% and the economy has lost over 8
million jobs since this recession began. You don't have to be
an economist to know that this is, shall we say, less than
ideal. However, the untold story is that for those of us who
are fortunate enough to have jobs, life goes on… only with a longer
to-do list and the added stress that comes with it. There are
now fewer hands to help push that boulder up the mountain and we
all know that boulders don't move themselves, so we are forced to
do more with less. And the numbers prove this---productivity
rose 5.8% from the last quarter of 2008 to 2009.
While it would be nice to think that this was simply the result
of increased efficiency, the truth is that we are more likely
working harder and longer. Unfortunately, time is a zero-sum
game. Every hour we spend working is an hour less we can
spend reading a book or at our children's soccer game or enjoying
any of the other pleasures of life.
So what are our options? Well, for starters,
let's start doing work at
work. It's a novel concept, I know.
For many of us, the workplace is full of distractions and
interruptions. There are several ways you can combat
this. I personally like to limit the seating options in my
office to discourage visitors. I also like to scatter papers
across my desk first thing in the morning to create the illusion of
work (note: later you can shred these papers to really make it look
like you are doing something). If all else fails, the barbed
wire and "No Trespassing" sign outside my office door usually gets
the point across.
If this sounds extreme, might I suggest you check out the new
best-selling book Rework by the co-founder of 37signals, Jason
Fried. If you haven't heard of 37signals, they are a
technology company that creates project management and
communication tools which are designed to help organizations
get stuff done. And these guys get an
amazing amount of stuff done… especially when you consider they
have less than 20 employees and rarely have meetings.
According to Fried, most workplaces are "optimized for
interruptions" and interruptions are the "enemy of
productivity." As a result, most of us end up doing
our real work after hours. Sound familiar?
Check out the video below for Fried's take:
For many of us, Fried's ideas may push the limits because they
challenge the old-guard thinking. As business guru Seth
Godin, says, "This book will make you uncomfortable. Depending on
what you do all day, it might make you extremely uncomfortable.
That's a very good thing, because you deserve it. We all do."
Among these ideas:
- Meetings are toxic
- Long lists don't get done
- Don't copy your competition
- Decommoditize your product
- Hire managers of one
- Hire only when it hurts
Any of those pique your interest? Or do you love meetings
as much as I do? While you may not agree with all of Fried's
ideas and some may not apply to your world, they will definitely
make you think. And that's the whole point.
Now go away… I have work to do.