5 Myths that Promise Workplace Efficiency

We’re squashing five myths that promise workplace efficiency for you and your company. Like marshmallows in your afternoon coffee, this is a sweet bonus that will have you zipping through the day with more speed and energy.

Myth No. 1: You can do a better job than your employees

CEOs do best when you check this bit of ego at the door. Don’t get locked in the belief that no one can do the job as well or as quickly as you can. You must trust your team (you hired them for a good reason). And when you find someone better at a task than you, you have found yourself a rockstar. You should be working on the business instead of in the business.

Myth No. 2: Hard work and long hours equal more money

Our first jobs typically instill in us this idea that hours on the clock equal more money. But you’re not paying yourself by the hour, as that old boss paid you as a teenager. Long hours running your own company usually equals burnout, stress, and bad eating habits. That, in turn, stifles your creativity because you are not giving yourself the space to get out of your word cloud.

Research consistently shows people reach a point of diminishing return the longer their weeks go past 35 hours. Workplace efficiency does not mean working 70 hours a week. As Dolly Parton says, “Don’t let yourself get so busy making a life that you forget to have a life.”

Myth No. 3: You can manage the company’s vision on your own

Healthy workplace cultures are created when the big boss communicates the vision for the company. CEOs sometimes have a habit of deciding on a plan and rolling it out without necessarily bringing the employees along for the process. You’ve got to share the bigger picture with your team. This will help them understand why you’ve designed the plan as you have. When the vision is clear, employees can understand the why of their responsibilities and are less likely to become apathetic or take the wrong action.

Myth No. 4: It’s not the CEO’s job to keep a pulse on how company time is spent

Leaders who take a little time to observe and investigate how their team spends their time find efficiencies to help improve the workflow. Don’t think of this as micromanaging. It is not about keeping workers on a short leash when done right. Check-in occasionally and ask some key questions about how they’re juggling their to-do list. You will likely spot places where they are spinning their wheels or time that could be used differently to reach a bigger goal.

Myth No. 5: You should only take action if you know it’s the right move

CEOs are often afraid of taking imperfect action. Perfectionism sometimes runs in a leader’s DNA. But don’t get hung up on ensuring a change will become a permanent improvement. You should be looking to try new approaches to tweak the procedures. And remember that to keep things continuously evolving, you’ll have to revamp how the job gets done in another six months anyway.

Workplace efficiency is more than possible with the right tools.

If you have questions about how to make your workplace more efficient, we’re here to help. Let’s connect.

Lauren Williams, Founder & Principal Consultant

Lauren Williams utilizes her 20 years of expertise in HR to support companies by improving and enhancing their people skills/operations, maximizing a company’s full potential. With care and passion, she focuses intently on the employee experience and how to leverage a solid community-based company culture that encourages organic employee engagement, retention, and empowerment.