CATEGORY:Workplace design

Workplace Myths

It is so easy to believe in myths.

We are conditioned to believe. From childhood, we hear our parents and elders caution us or advise us about various myths.

“Friday the thirteenth inevitably brings bad luck.”

“If your right palm itches, you are likely to receive money.”

“Walking under a ladder will lead to sorrow.”

Most myths are beliefs or practices that result from one of five causes :

1. Ignorance
2. Fear of the unknown
3. Trust in magic, luck or chance
4. A false conception of causation
5. An irrational attitude of mind toward the supernatural, nature, or God

Similarly, workplace myths, too, abound.

A lot of these myths start off as well-intentioned business and leadership observations. Sadly, they take on the garb of wisdom, and over time, are believed as if they were gospel.

Here are 5 workplace myths that research has proven wrong. You have surely heard of these. You have possibly believed these myths.

Let us bust these myths once and for all!

Myth # 1 : Longer Hours = More Productivity

Since I started working many years ago, I have always been told that putting in extra hours is the sure route to achievement and success.

“See that colleague – he works 14 hours every day, and his career is sky-rocketing.”

Research has conclusively proved that employees are actually more productive when they work shorter days.

In one case, using a time-tracking productivity app called DeskTime, the Draugiem Group conducted an experiment to understand the habits of the most productive employees.

They found that the employees with the highest productivity did not work longer hours than their counterpart. In fact, they did not even work full eight-hour days.

Instead, the most productive employees took a 17-minute break for every 52 minutes of work.

Built in breaks and shorter workdays actually enable employees to be their most productive.

In fact, the reverse is true. Working longer hours can, in fact, lead to greater operational costs and negative health effects, such as sleep deprivation, which can threaten productivity.

Myth # 2 : High Achievers = Great Managers

How often have we seen a superb sales representative being promoted to a sales manager’s role and then failing spectacularly.

“Rajan has surpassed his sales targets 3 years in a row. Let us promote him to Sales Manager!” And 6 months later, “I am afraid we will need to let Rajan go – he is just not up to the task!”

There is a clear difference between performing and managing.

Performance is necessary to be a manager, but not sufficient.

To be high achiever, one needs to bring out the best in oneself. To be a great manager, one needs to be able to understand, interact with and bring the best out of people.

Research has found that managers who don’t have the ability to improve the productivity of their people fail at twice the rate of average-quality managers.

So being a great manager takes more than just being great at your job. You need to understand your people and their capabilities and make them great performers, too.

Myth # 3 : Higher Salaries = Happier Employees

“I think George may be thinking of leaving us. We should increase his salary so that he stays.”

Salary is important.

But salary is not a motivator. It can cause dissatisfaction, but it can never satisfy. It is a ‘hygiene’ factor.

The best research in this area is Frederick Herzberg’s in motivation and hygiene factors, and their impact on morale and productivity.

Herzberg showed that the there are two kinds of factors in the workplace – motivators (satisfying factors) and dissatisfiers (hygiene factors). The proper management of hygiene factors can prevent employee dissatisfaction, but these factors can never serve as a source of motivation.

A good salary, for instance, will keep employees at a job but does not motivate them to work harder. But poor salaries may make employees look elsewhere and quit.

A manager who wants to increase employee satisfaction and happiness needs to focus on the motivators. A job with many satisfying factors will usually motivate workers, provide job satisfaction, and prompt effective performance.

Satisfying factors include recognition, responsibility, advancement, job satisfaction and growth.

Hygiene factors include salary, job security, workplace conditions and supervision.

Myth # 4 : Happy Workplace = Zero Conflict

Most of us believe that workplace disagreements are undesirable.

Such disagreements indicate tension and disconnect, distract team members from doing their jobs, and therefore damage productivity.

But research reveals just the opposite: in many cases, disagreements fuel better performance.

Most workplace disagreements fall into one of two categories:

1. relationship conflicts, which involve personality clashes, and
2. task conflicts, which focus on how work is performed.

Studies indicate that while relationship conflicts are indeed detrimental, task conflicts produce better decisions and stronger financial outcomes.

Healthy debate encourages group members to think more deeply, scrutinize alternatives, and avoid premature consensus.

While many of us view conflict as unpleasant, the experience of open deliberation can actually energize employees by providing them with better strategies for doing their job.

Workplaces that avoid disagreements in an effort to maintain group harmony are doing themselves a disservice. Far better to create an environment in which thoughtful debate is encouraged.

Myth # 5 : Open Plan = More Engagement

“Let us move to an open plan office – that will help our employees engage more and collaborate better!”

Theoretically, open plan offices should encourage more interaction.

With no cubicles or walls to divide staff, open plan offices were originally planned to increase collaboration within teams and workplaces.

But a 2018 study from researchers at Harvard University suggests the design could be counterproductive.

Comparing the experiences of employees at two Fortune 500 companies before and after a move to open plan, the researchers found that face-to-face time between employees decreased by around 70% while the use of email increased in the range of 22-50%.

Why?

One, the drive for increased interaction and collaboration comes at the expense of the ability to focus and concentrate. Continuous distractions make it hard for employees to focus. This results in increasing stress and errors, undermining performance and productivity. This forces employees to work harder and longer; causing them to eschew interaction with others so they can complete their tasks.

Two, engagement and interaction are not products of workspace configuration. They are outcomes of culture, workplace environment, team-structure and role definitions.

Tradition Is Obsolete

Five common workplace myths busted!

By now, you should have realized that these myths have been believed for so many years only because we fell prey to tradition.

“This is how it was always done, so this is how we must continue to do it.”

Break out of that mindset. It is a prison that shackles you and prevents you from innovating and growing.

Look at every myth that you have accepted. Question it. Evaluate it. And then, discard it or embrace it based on the value it brings to your workplace.

What is the myth you want to bust today?

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Do send your inputs to me, either as a comment or as a PM.

Cheers | Shesh | Singapore | 24 November 2020.

Post Script :

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“What we want is a place to call our own,” says Ashwini, “a workplace that is inclusive and fair”.

Ashwini is a relationship manager in a bank. Her office is in one of several floors the bank occupies in a high rise building in the financial centre. We’ve known each other for many years. Ashwini is one of the smartest, hardest working people I have ever met.

“Offices are built by men, for men,” she says. “Just like our cities. And even though women make up half the workforce, we’re rarely involved in decisions on design.”

“Oh,” I say, confused, “I thought a large proportion of architects and interior designers are women.”

“Hah, I have heard this,” says Ashwini, “and it is wrong! Less than 25% of architects are women. If you consider senior architects, that figure drops to sub-5%! So, client decision makers are men; architects are men; contractors are men – is it surprising that offices across the world are geared to men and leave women out in the cold?”

“I stand corrected,” I say. “So, what changes would you make to your workplace?”

“Quite a few,” Ashwini answers, “and most of these are small tweaks which can have big impacts. This is where gender awareness comes in. We need to understand and recognise how women’s needs differ from men’s.”

“For now, let’s talk about just three aspects.”

A PLACE TO GO

“Let’s start with bathrooms,” says Ashwini.

“Bathrooms?” I ask, puzzled.

“Yes,’ she says. “I don’t know if you have noticed, but most offices have more bathrooms for men than for women. And women need bathrooms more than men. For example, on our floor, where we have as many women as men, the men’s bathroom has 6 urinals, 4 cubicles and 3 wash basins. The women’s bathroom has 3 cubicles and 2 wash basins.”

“Really?” I ask, astonished (I have never really visited women’s bathrooms). “Why?”

“Same reason,’ Ashwini says wryly, “men clients, men designers, men contractors.”

“So often,” she continues, “we hold back, or go to other floors where we think the bathrooms may be less crowded. And if even one cubicle has a maintenance issue, God help us!”

I am hearing about issues that never even crossed my mind before.

To be fair,” she continues, “modern building codes provide equal flooring space to male and female bathrooms. But this is not enough. Male bathrooms have both urinals and cubicles, thereby increasing the access. Also, men don’t have periods or babies or urinary tract infections. And finally, if you studied even a little bit of biology in school, you may recall that women have smaller bladders than men.”

“I have never thought of these things,” I confess.

“We are sending our daughters to workplaces designed for our dads…” Melinda Gates

“Adding to women’s facilities will actually improve productivity,” Ashwini says, earnestly. “Many of my female colleagues say that 60% of the time they need to use the bathroom is spent in waiting or searching for available facilities. Isn’t that time better used in productive work?”

“Absolutely,” I agree, “Why didn’t any of my women colleagues speak of this to me when I was CEO? I could have done so much to make things more comfortable for them?

“For the same reason I am not speaking to my CEO or supervisor,” says Ashwini, sadly. “I don’t want to be seen as a whiner or ‘difficult’ employee. And bathrooms are not a topic women are comfortable discussing, anyway.”

“I just wish I had been more sensitive, and listened more,” I say, thinking of all the lost chances.

“I wish we women raise our voices more and make ourselves heard,” says Ashwini. “It’s a two-way street, Shesh.”

“That’s true,” I say. “What is your second point?”

A PLACE TO WORK

“Did you know that numerous studies show that open plan spaces can make sexual harassment worse?” asks Ashwini. “That they can make women feel like they have to dress up much more than they would otherwise? That they can make it difficult to deal with any emotions, whether work or entirely not work related?”

“What!” I exclaim. “I always thought open plan offices help improve communication and teamwork.”

“That’s how men think,” Ashwini says, in a resigned tone. “Women need a little privacy. We feel much more comfortable in a cubicle that allows us to do our work without worrying about who’s watching us and why. You need to understand, Shesh, that many of us feel exposed in open offices, with the crawling feeling that someone is watching us all the time, judging us, checking us out.”

“I am not saying that closed-in spaces are the answer. Open plan offices do have plenty of benefits. But can we not have an office that has diverse workspaces? A mixture of open plan, and cubicles, and private rooms? Allowing people the freedom to choose and move between them, depending on their requirements and needs?”

I think back to the offices I had worked in. What Ashwini was saying was very possible. Offices did not need to be homogenous. They could be designed much more diversely, making them so much more friendly to different needs.

I look at Ashwini. “I agree,” I say, “Offices and workplaces can be easily designed differently, making them much more effective. And your third point?”

A PLACE TO UNWIND

“Many companies are now upgrading offices to make them more friendly and fun,” says Ashwini, “which is great! But, the definition of fun seems to be based on male preferences.”

“For example, on the 11^th floor, we have a gaming area, a foosball table and a pool table. A far cry from the offices I started my career in, I assure you! Sadly, this is focussed on what men like and how they unwind and bond.”

“To this day,” Ashwini continues, “I have yet to see an office which has a reading corner. Or a yoga room. Or a quiet alcove where we can sit and chat and have a cup of tea. These spaces are what women can unwind in. Or catch up on personal updates with colleagues.”

Ashwini was right. I remember sprucing up one off my offices to make it more fun. And what did I put in? Foosball and table tennis and darts. We never even considered yoga or reading.

“I agree, Ashwini,” I say, with remorse, “how unaware and ill-informed I have been throughout my career! I wish I had known all this earlier.”

As I walk to the elevator, I see 4 women standing outside the women’s facilities. Thirty plus years in the corporate world, and I notice this for the first time? Shame on me…

A PLACE AT THE TABLE…

I am retired. There is not much I can do to change anything in the workplace anymore. But you can. You can look around you and see things that I did not see. And then, act on them.

What can you do?

• Ask questions.
• Be situationally aware.
• Consider diverse needs.
• Plan inclusively.

Most of us spend much of our lives in our workplaces. Help make them welcoming, friendly and comfortable. Give everyone a place at the table…

If you want to transform your work environment, don’t just click ‘like’. Share your views, your criticisms, your comments and your disagreements. Let us start a movement that will shatter past practices and paradigms and lead the way to a better world.

Cheers,

Shesh.

(Singapore / 07 January 2020)

*****

A Place

“What women want is for the workplace to be gender-aware,” says Hannah.

Hannah is a lawyer. Her office is in Singapore’s Central Business District, in a swanky office building. We sit in a conference room which I am sure has seen and heard many grievances being aired.

“People talk about needing to be gender-blind,” Hannah continues, leaning forward. “I don’t understand this. How can we be gender-blind? Men and women are different in so many ways. We need to recognize and accommodate these differences.”

“That is a fair point,” I say, while noting the term, ‘gender-aware’. “Could you give me an example?”

“I can give you many!” Hannah says, smiling, “but let’s focus on one for today.” 

A Cold Shoulder

“Let’s start with office temperatures. I don’t know if you are aware, but there is something called “Standard 55”, which is a set of guidelines created for indoor climate regulation. Most offices are designed to comply with Standard 55.”

“Wow! I didn’t know that!” I exclaim.

“Well,” Hannah continues, “then you also did not know that this standard was developed in the 1950s based on the comfort of a 40-year old, 70 kg man in a business suit.”

“Really?” This Hannah evidently knew much more than torts and claims!

“Yes. But what this standard does not take into account is the difference between men and women. Men expend more energy while at rest, and thus run warmer. Women have higher core temperatures, and cold air is jarring and uncomfortable. Also, men’s office wear tends to be warmer – ties, jackets, etc.; women’s office wear is lighter – skirts and dresses.”

“You know, this explains a lot!” I say. “In the offices that I worked, I would see the women wearing sweaters and shawls. It always seemed strange, because I did not feel cold at all.”

“And what did you do about it?” Hannah asks teasingly. “Nothing, I am sure!”

“Well…” I began, suddenly feeling the office temperature becoming uncomfortable.

“That’s the problem” Hannah sighs, waving her finger at me. “No awareness of how the other gender feels!”

A Win-Win-Win Outcome

“But, it’s not just about comfort,” she continues, “there is research that shows that colder temperatures in offices lead to increased illnesses among women, causing their productivity to drop. Also, a recent study proves that women perform cognitive tasks better in warmer conditions than in colder environments.”

“Wow!” I said again, “I did not know that!” I was repeating myself, like a parrot.

“And finally, given the global concern on climate change, the University of Sydney has calculated that bringing workplace temperatures up by 2 degrees will save upto 30% in energy consumption!”

Hannah’s words were forming an amazing picture. “So, you are saying that a slightly warmer workplace will lead to healthier women, higher output and lower costs and environmental impact?”

“Yes,” she says, leaning back, having made her points.

“Then, then…why has no one done anything about this?” I sputter.

“Because the world is not gender-aware. You have been a professional for 35 years and much of what I said is news to you! So, this is what I want – that shareholders and managers become more gender-aware; so that all of us together can accrue the amazing benefits from being so.”

As I walked to the MRT, Hannah’s words played on my mind, as did Sheryl Sandberg‘s famous words,

“We cannot change what we are not aware of; and once we are aware, we cannot help but change…”

Afterword

Isn’t it amazing? Just changing the temperature in offices by 2 degrees can lead to so many benefits –

1. More comfort
2. Better health
3. Increased productivity
4. Lower costs
5. Reduced environmental impact

Why was I blind for so many years?

I have to live with regret…

But to all you leaders and future leaders, you can do things differently. Please take a moment to speak to your women colleagues and listen to them. Appreciate the challenges they face and address them. You will not just change their lives, you will create a workplace that is happier, healthier and more productive. You will leave a lasting legacy.

If you want to transform your workplace, click like, and share.

Please share your own experiences. Together, let us start a movement that will shatter past practices and paradigms and make us aware of the better world that awaits us.

Cheers,

Shesh.

(Singapore / 10 December 2019)

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Post Script :

1. For other interesting CEO Chronicles, click here.
2. Follow me so that you don’t miss the next issue of CEO Chronicles.

#ceochronicles #WorkplaceWellbeing #WhatWomenWant #workplaceculture #diversity #inclusion #leadership #parity #genderawareness