Amit Mathradas, the CEO of Nintex, a process automation and artificial intelligence company, recently discussed the shallow nature of the term “productivity” in the technology industry. He pointed out that productivity has become a buzzword that lacks substance and fails to address the true value of work. In the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic, many companies focused on productivity in a remote work environment, leading to an overemphasis on output-based teams rather than outcome-based teams. This approach can lead to dissatisfaction and low retention rates among employees.
While some tech giants like Google and Meta have publicly committed to improving productivity and efficiency, other companies have resorted to monitoring employee keystrokes and emails to track performance. However, employee discontent is growing, especially among tech workers, who often find themselves doing mundane tasks to meet arbitrary quotas. Mathradas argues that measuring productivity alone is superficial and does not provide a true indication of the meaningful impact of work.
He suggests shifting the focus from productivity to progress and from efficiency to purpose in order to create a more fulfilling work environment. By rethinking how work is measured, leaders and employees can move toward a more meaningful way of assessing performance. Instead of rewarding performative behavior based on output metrics, businesses should focus on organizational efficiency and customer satisfaction to drive success. Additionally, investing in technology that allows employees to focus on meaningful work can improve the quality of the work experience and lead to a more sustainable workforce.
To kickstart this shift, Mathradas offers three pieces of advice for businesses looking to measure work more meaningfully. Firstly, he recommends setting clear business goals and communicating them transparently to employees so that they understand how their work contributes to the overall success of the company. Secondly, he suggests focusing on organizational efficiency rather than individual productivity, using team-based metrics to evaluate performance and benchmark against peers. Lastly, investing in technology that automates repetitive tasks can free up employees to focus on complex, creative, and problem-solving work that drives the business forward.
In conclusion, Mathradas emphasizes the need for a new era of measuring business and employee performance that goes beyond empty productivity metrics. As workforces become smarter and more creative, traditional measures of productivity may no longer be sufficient. By redefining how success is measured and setting higher goals for employee engagement and satisfaction, businesses can create a happier and more sustainable workforce.
