I vividly recall a time when being considered ‘good’ at your job often meant mastering the art of looking perpetually busy, even if your actual workload was light. It was a peculiar dance where the appearance of productivity overshadowed real output, and the hours spent at your desk were used as a gauge of your diligence.
Now, I mention this as if it were a relic of the past, but truth be told, it’s a phenomenon that still lingers in most workplaces today. In fact, according to the Harvard Business Review, there’s a one-word label for it: ‘busyness.’ It’s a sneaky contributor to the ever-growing issue of burnout that plagues employees everywhere.
But what exactly is ‘busyness’? It’s not just about appearing occupied while taking necessary mental breaks or staying alert for surprise visits from your boss. It’s also about being excessively busy, not in a productive sense, but in a way that involves mindless tasks and endless meetings that divert employees from their primary responsibilities. As the pressure mounts and stress skyrockets, productivity dwindles, and burnout takes root. However, there are three straightforward rules every business can adopt to combat this ‘busyness’ culture and tackle burnout effectively. Let’s dive in:
- Prioritise Output over Activity: Instead of valuing visible busyness, businesses should shift their focus to rewarding tangible results. ‘Busyness’ might give the impression of high activity, but it doesn’t always translate to high output. To avoid fostering a ‘busyness’ culture, companies should emphasize productivity, outcomes, and final results. When managers understand and measure the actual output of their teams, they can set clear expectations based on performance.
- Reduce Time-Consuming Task Overload: While unexpected tasks are part of any job, they shouldn’t overwhelm an employee to the point where they can’t complete their core responsibilities. Often, this happens due to poorly trained colleagues and micromanagers, who demand excessive hand-holding. The solution lies in providing better training and creating transparent structures. This empowers employees to find answers independently, reducing the need for constant interruption and assistance.
- Limit the Number of Cooks in the Kitchen: In an attempt to foster inclusivity, many businesses involve too many people in projects and meetings. However, this can hinder productivity, blur lines of responsibility, and lead to an excessive workload that feels more like busywork than meaningful contributions. As Steve Jobs famously asserted, there’s an ideal meeting size. Companies should ensure that only those truly essential to a project are involved, preserving individual accountability and preventing wasted time.
While no business is entirely immune to the ‘busyness’ culture, conscious companies can take steps to mitigate it. In doing so, employees can perform their duties more effectively, boosting productivity and reducing burnout. No more frantic pretending to be busy or drowning in unnecessary tasks – it’s all about finding the balance that allows everyone to thrive at work.
