Productivity
If you’ve ever lived in any community, town, city, etc. you’ve probably encountered some sort of local construction projects. This could be the building of new residential areas, shopping centers, or entertainment arenas. It could also include highway expansion, road repair, or bridge maintenance. It is expected that construction of any kind will temporarily disrupt regular commutes and travel plans, but some construction projects seem to take longer than others. For instance, a section of the major highway I used to travel between home and my undergraduate campus was literally under construction for ten years—it finally finished after I graduated (of course). Yet, during my four years there my institution demolished and rebuilt two residence halls, the student union, and a major academic building. So how is it that some projects move faster than others? There are a wide variety of reasons that some construction projects take longer than others, but in this case, let’s say it’s due to different expectations around productivity.
Productivity, at its core, is a measure of how efficiently an individual or team can produce something. James Clear, the author of Atomic Habits, explains that productivity is not about getting more things done each day, it’s about getting important things done consistently. More specifically, he says “being productive is about maintaining a steady, average speed on a few things, not maximum speed on everything”1. The challenge is that not everyone has this same understanding of productivity. It is one of those things where we all generally understand the concept of productivity but when it comes to practicing it, we all have different ideas. So, when you’re learning about a prospective office, you want to have an idea of what productivity means for them and how they apply it.
Like always, the best way to find the answer to this question is to ask directly. “What does productivity look like on this team? What are some understood markers for productivity?” This essentially asks how productivity is measured in this office. In terms of green flags, you want to see a shared understanding that revolves around efficiency and strives for consistency. I purposefully use the word strive because there needs to be room for individual flexibility. We are people, not machines, so we have to allow for adjustments and modifications. At the same time, you need to know your own capacity and limits so you can articulate what efficiency and consistency looks like for you. Then you can work with your supervisor to strengthen your capacity if needed or take a step back if necessary. Additionally, expectations around standards around productivity should also be able to change with time. People take on a variety of work throughout the year, so if things come up that change someone’s capacity for consistency, their measures of productivity should be adjusted based on their current workload. Overall, expectations around productivity need to be open and clear so as to eliminate ambiguity and uncertainty, which if not address could lead to further misunderstandings and miscommunications.
In terms of red flags, answers would include rigid expectations and standards for maximum output. There is no consideration for the human costs associated with work. Additionally, if there is no opportunity for conversation about workload and productivity, I would be very leery of the culture and leadership within office. Staff can quickly lose confidence in their directors if they have unrealistic expectations and/or limited communication around outcomes. If leaders don’t create room for flexibility when it comes to productivity, staff can also become burnt out and other areas of their mental health can suffer.
Ultimately, it’s important to know that productivity isn’t about working to maximum output every day. It’s about being consistent with the work you complete (in terms of both time and quality). Look for an office with leadership and team members who have a shared understanding of productivity and know what your levels of productivity are before your first interview. Make sure they can support your capacity for productivity and have space for you to grow and adjust as time progresses.
1: https://jamesclear.com/productivity
TL/DR:
Ask: What does productivity look like on this team? What are some understood markers for productivity?
Meaning: How is productivity measured?
Green Flags: Shared/agreed upon expectations with supervisor, Individually determined with room for flexibility, Expectations/standards can change with time
Red Flags: Traditional standards of output without any consideration of staff well-being
