(Mondays are traditionally Lynn Miles Peisker days at The Daily Blur, but she deserved a day off so her posts can continue to rock like Elvis. You can see proof of said rockage in Lynn’s archive.)
… if you relax, you’ll be more productive.
That’s according to an op-ed in Sunday’s New York Times, “Relax! You’ll Be More Productive” by Tony Schwartz, CEO of the The Energy Project.
Carefully researched and annotated, the op-ed points out the benefits of plenty of rest, focusing on things we enjoy, and more vacations.
To the latter point, did you know a recent Harris poll showed Americans left an average of 9.2 vacation days unused in 2012?
That’s not only insane, in our company that would be cause for dismissal.
In our company, we need our team to be at their best. We exercise big brain muscles, and they need to be well-rested.
Our Company Champions:
Margin. It took a lot of work (and a lot of awesomeness from Lynn and Ryan and Dee), but now 80% of our client work is proactive. In most cases, we’re working ahead. It’s amazing how this lowers your stress level.
Fewer, shorter meetings. Less paperwork. Seriously, people who demand meetings, reports and forms without serious justification deserve swift, severe punishment.
Flex schedules. Work when you’re at your most productive … and stop when you’re done. As long as you’re checking off all the tasks assigned to you, what do we care when you check them off or how long (or how short) it takes you to get them done?
Flex vacation times. Use as much as you feel you need. As long as you’re not abusing it, we encourage respites.
Continuing education and development. When you feel you’re working toward mastery of something, you’ll feel more alive.
Charity projects on company time. When you feel like you’re making a difference, you’ll feel more alive.
No email on weekends. This isn’t easy, but we’re trying.
Spontaneous bonuses like memberships to Massage Envy or subscriptions to MLB.TV. If everyone’s helping you get to where your company wants to go, everyone should benefit.
Transparent financials. If your company doesn’t know where you’re going, how can they (or why would they want to) help you get there?
We are considering mandatory siesta time.
Think we’re nuts?
Your Company Challenge
Then, pick one thing you’ll challenge your company to do differently to encourage relaxation.
Better yet – share the article with your employees. Encourage them to come with plans to increase employee relaxation … and subsequently increase productivity.
Have a contest. Trust me, everybody wins.
You also burn the most calories while sleeping, thinking about integrating nap-time into my work day!
Seriously! Mandatory siesta time needs to be a thing in this country!