Does working less increase productivity?
At least, that is what the article, How to Work Less and Do Better says….
The research by Perlow and Porter seems to confirm just the opposite, that not working can yield better work. In the experiment, members of a dozen four- or five-member consulting teams at Boston Consulting Group (BCG) were required to take “predictable time off” every week, defined as one uninterrupted evening free each week after 6 p.m.—no work contact whatsoever, and no Blackberrys.
The downtime was awkward for many, nerve-racking for some, and a few fought the idea, fearful of poor performance ratings or more weekend work. The goal was to teach people that you can tune out completely for a time and still produce great work.
It worked. BCG internal surveys showed that within six months, consultants were more satisfied with their jobs and work-life balance, and more likely to stay with the firm, compared to those who weren’t part of the study. Too, BCG clients told Perlow and Porter that the teams turned out better work, in part due to “more open dialogue among team members” and that “the improved communication also sparked new processes that enhanced the teams’ ability to work most efficiently and effectively.”
Personally, I believe that an optimum work-life balance is a must for increasing productivity. You need to let loose, unwind, take a break and enjoy the other finer things in life.
