This article is being written from a train on a cross-country journey while the sun droops over the horizon on England’s fair dales. Deliberately no attempt has been made to ‘connect’ and as a result many emails have been written; thoughts had; and plans created – one might say it has been quite ‘productive’. By contrast a few hours of ‘being connected’ would probably not have resulted in the same level of output.
So what is the ‘new productive’?
Do we really mean ‘instant’ instead of ‘productive’? If you receive an email within work hours many people expect a reply if not a full conversation before the day is out. We’ve all had an email and then 5 minutes later a phone call following it up saying ‘have you read my email?’ with the expectation that you have and have done or thought something about it (aka ‘been productive’). Somehow this doesn’t seem unreasonable anymore and indeed in many cases it has been read but perhaps that is more indicative of our incessant ‘checking’ society?
Taking the email example further, there is some sense of satisfaction when you have ‘answered all your emails’ as if that is a goal in itself. Of course it can’t be, unless you have a particularly unusual job where all you do is email. Yet one could go home and feel ‘productive’ as a result even if your actual todo list is growing like a Petri dish. Indeed if this is the new definition then surely ‘quality’ suffers. Of course a certain standard is maintained but if there “isn’t time” to provide a more considered response because it needs to occur within an instant time-frame.
This isn’t just about emails but text messages and increasingly comments such as “haven’t you seen it on Facebook?” despite only being posted a few hours ago and not everyone being a member. Certainly being instant has its benefits and is undoubtedly fueled by increased or expected connectivity but whether it boosts productivity seems questionable.
Digitally Unplugged
It might seem odd for a company that deals with websites, social media and other forms of networking to be advocating being a little unplugged, but there certainly is a value in it. The “hold all my calls” that is seen in the movies may be dramatic but it does allow time for consideration and focus. Removing ‘notification stimulation’ allows you to read, to ponder. Is it really that critical the mobile signal or wireless doesn’t work that well?
Potentially it is not the ‘more productive’ aspect as opposed to ‘differently productive’, time to deal with reading, write a really good presentation or just some (cringe) ‘blue-sky thinking’. It’s that half hour on the underground where there still isn’t mobile connectivity, being on a plane where you can dream out the window or just occasionally turning things off?! Surely that email could wait an extra 5 minutes and the world won’t collapse if you don’t respond to the text?
Connected Thoughts?
Of course you may now be wondering how quickly we will reply to client queries. While our official policy is 2 business days so we can prioritise urgent queries and take time to think about more complex issues please don’t be surprised if you have a response within minutes let alone hours 
Smartphones haven’t helped as we’re even more addicted to email checking but thankfully our other halves do – even if this means their borrowing it to check Facebook.
Hopefully there is a happy balance between connected and productive but it might just hinge on using those disconnected periods to get some quality time in. Possibly the real answer about productivity is not whether you are connected or not but how relaxed you are – thank you bottle of Scottish Ale.
