Unlike most other working spaces an overwhelming majority…
Unlike most other working spaces, an overwhelming majority of the agencies that work with consultancy (business, branding ..) and design (interactive, graphic ..) still use the ‘time-card’system. You wouldn’t expect that, would you!?
Just like in the old factory system, these highly creative minds (yes, consultancy is or should be highly creative) need to explain, at the end of the day, how their used their hours. In this way, the agency knows when to call the client when the project is going over budget. The system works like this: agencies may not have the actual punchclock, but a software program where people choose the corresponding project and they type in their hours. This activity takes time, restrospective thinking (what did i do today?) and, worst of all, people become very (!) conscious of their time.
When corporates turn to consultants and design for help, they expect them to act like Superman – to thrill and inspire them, to do perfect work with unexpected and totally relevant insights in the shortest time. It is possible! But don’t put the burden of time on Superman. When people are conscious that time is money, several things happen. First, the formal planned meetings have to deliver and fast! Because they need to think fast, the participants innocently perpetuate old techniques and ideas. Well, at least they worked in the past. Second, activities (like chit-chatting) that cannot be declared are reduced. We all know chitchatting is good for the soul, for bonding and for project – during chitchatting new ideas are created.
Great ideas and great execution don’t come from nowhere. This is why in most of these of the agencies people work over time and are always hungry to learn outside(!) the agency. About anything, anywhere. Otherwise, they cannot get their work properly done at the high level they aspire to. For this reason, if you are even thinking about it – no!, you don’t need to keep track of your employees activities with a time whip. They do serious work and are serious about it without time tracking.
Declaring my time is the only (!) activity that i hate doing at my job. This is something worth thinking about – do we really need it? Does declaring time help the agency via statistics & foreplanning of budgets or actually hurt the agency, and by association – projects, by bottling down people’s drive and perspectives?
To help my brain deal with the burden of time especially in what some would call high moments of stress, I have permitted myself to think that I am on a permanent vacation. This is how I keep alive my inquisitive spirit, my creativity and freedom. Research has shown (such as the Open Space workshop practice that takes further the fact that people have the best discussions during coffee breaks) that unconsciously we have it all figured out - it is when we relax and feel in control of our time (in the shower, bus, at that glass of wine) that the brain manages to make subcounscios connection and bring a great idea or solution to the surface. So, I might be up to something with this permanent vacation.
Mr./Mrs. founder/ CEO / manager/ leader, think what you are asking from your people and the time pressure you are putting on them. Also think that 9-6 pm is not the most inspiring and effective slot of the day for everyone.
Simona Straut is discussing. 
Simona Straut 7:46 pm on April 3, 2011 Permalink |
great post Diana, while each row is passing it feels the passion from your soul, you are right! and by the way, I totally agree that most of the time the best ideas for a presentation came over on a glass of wine:-))