Good managers create environments that are conducive to productivity.
Great managers let you create your own environment that is conducive to your productivity.
There is a reason people will pay more for a customized product or service. If it is customized it is a better fit for their needs. Customization isn’t just appealing to consumers. Customization is appealing to anyone looking to create greater value.
Environmental Factors of Workplace Productivity
In the workplace a greater value means increased productivity. Increased productivity is usually a result of the environment in which the employee is working. There are certain aspects of this environment that cannot be altered, and limits on some that can, but for the large part managers tend to demand too much control over that environment. They view their ability to control that environment as a measure of their power.
For many people there is a certain type of environment that makes them most productive, but a manager should not assume or dictate that standard. One size does not fit all in the world of professional productivity. If you aren’t taking measurements, don’t assume you know what size fits.
It takes more power to relinquish some control than it does to hold onto it. Customization increases value, so let your employees measure themselves to customize their own workplace environments in order to maximize productive value.
Image Source: Sinistra e Liberta on Flickr
{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
Hi Eric!
I can’t agree with you more! Honestly, sometimes when I walk into the office and look at my computer it’s like staring into the eyes of a blood-thirsty bear monster. The only way for me to be productive on days like that is to play some music, sit cross-legged in my chair and tune out everything around me. Of course, in an office that has phones ringing all day, people popping in with new jobs and tons of high-energy players running around in a frenzy, that meditative approach can be tough to maintain. A solid and productive working environment is different for everyone, and you should consider yourself very lucky if at the end of the day your inbox is empty and you have your wits about you still.
Hi Kate,
Thanks for your thoughts. It sounds like your environment might not be as flexible as mine. I guess I am lucky that I am able to step back and catch that much-needed breath every once in a while. I think that for people who are not able to do that, or their managers aren’t as accommodating as they should be, maybe it becomes an issue of trying to squeeze even more calm and rejuvenation out of each “meditative” moment.
Eric´s last blog ..Great managers create value through customization
Eric, thanks for the super focused and important post, and Katie thank for checking it out and leaving a comment! Much appreciated!