Empower people leaders to build trust and boost productivity
The future of work is characterised by autonomy and flexibility…or so we’re led to believe. One of the main challenges of making this a reality is the growing issue of productivity paranoia.
If you haven’t heard the term before, productivity paranoia happens when leaders question their employee’s work ethic, even when evidence suggests there isn’t a problem. Microsoft came up with the expression after their own research showed a massive disconnect between managers’ perceptions of productivity and reality (only 12% of managers had full confidence in their teams when remote working, yet 87% of workers said they were fully productive when working from home).
From the conversations I’m having with business leaders, Microsoft isn't alone. With the pressure on to perform and hit targets, ill-equipped managers are resorting to micro-management and control. Their focus is often on making employees rigidly stick to the rules, as opposed to offering them a view of the big picture and providing transparency in decision making.
The problem is this behaviour erodes trust, stifles creativity and creates a culture of fear and competition among employees. According to Gallup's State of Global Workplace 2023 Report, if we don't feel trusted, we're twice as likely to say we're looking for a new job.
That’s why I believe it’s so important that people leaders are given the right training and support to develop the mindset, skills and tools to confidently lead their teams with context, not control.
To unleash the full potential of everyone, people leaders must set the tone for trust by role modelling expected behaviour, encouraging open dialogue - so all voices are heard and respected - and prioritising people over processes so that individual strengths and needs are recognised.
If you’re keen to support your people leaders to create an environment that encourages employees to experiment, explore new ideas, and empowers them to make decisions and take ownership of their work - then we should talk!
Click here to book a call to discuss how I can help ensure your people leaders drive greater productivity and engagement with their teams. And, in the meantime, maybe take a moment to reflect on your own behaviour - is there one thing you could do to give your team more trust and autonomy?
PS. It’s not just trust and creativity that productivity paranoia affects, it also has a huge impact on diversity and inclusion, and health and wellbeing. Constant scrutiny often leads to increased levels of anxiety, depression, and other stress-related health issues. Don’t let poor people leadership stand in the way of you attracting and retaining top talent - book a call with me today!
