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An old urban legend says that hard work pays off. We’ve probably all heard it in one form or another as an attempt to motivate us. Being young people, we often combine study with work to achieve something big. But hey, there is a different thinking pattern – it is smart work that pays off.
Smart work pays off
Here at the Kambu, agility has been our domain for a long time, but recent times have shown us that agile is much more than reacting to changes swiftly. As more of us started to work from home, we found that workplace agility is equally important. We all started to be digital nomads and quickly found out that we can work wherever and whenever we want to. With all tools needed we work seamlessly and cohesively. What about efficiency you may ask. And here the story begins. It didn’t suffer, not at all.
We all started to be digital nomads and quickly found out that we can work wherever and whenever we want to.
Why 8 hours work-day?
In case you haven’t thought about where the hell the 8-hour system came from yet, let me briefly summarize. In early 1914 Henry Ford announced an 8-hour working day in his factories while maintaining wages. Back then it was a big change as work hours shortened by almost half. The reasons for introducing the new organization of work, however, were very mundane. Such a division allowed for the smooth operation of the factory 24 hours a day in a 3-shift system. In addition, people had more time to consume, so they were more willing to buy products manufactured in factories, including automobiles.
Are we stuck to 9-5?
While our day seemed perfectly balanced (8 hours labor, 8 hours recreation, 8 hours rest), our work model is completely different from our biological clock. Studies show that our bodies are not able to be productive for 8 consecutive hours. Our daily biological cycles, the so-called “circadian rhythm” say that we are more productive at certain times of the day. Including intellectual and physical activities.
Manage your energy, not your time.
Tony Schwartz
During the day we have two productivity peaks, according to research. The first one lasts from when we wake up to before noon. This is the best time to think and do tasks that require concentration. From noon to 3–4 PM our brain is not very productive anymore, so it is the best time for tasks that don’t require so much concentration.
Finally, our second peak is from 5–6 PM but it is mostly physical.
Of course, all of this depends on one’s diet, hormones, daylight… and much more. By listening to your body you will hear its rhythms and be able to plan your activities accordingly.
What we chose to change at kambu and why
In early June, we decided to shorten our workday from 8 to 7 hours. We were well aware of all these brilliant facts but our main motivation was in a different place.
Pandemic time was hard for all. Changing our homes into offices, mixing our personal life with business meetings, reorganizing our spaces – all of it affects our moods and feelings. So if we can work productively in a smart way and spend more time relaxing, developing ourselves, being with our friends and families – it is worth trying.
We not only shortened our workday but also redefined thinking about work at Kambu. We don’t expect teams to work from 9 am to 5 PM (I mean, 4 PM). If you deliver value, you can work at any time, any place.
Also, we set a rule that all meetings are supposed to take place in the 9 AM-1 PM range. Thanks to this, it is easier to plan our work and everyone has space to focus on a given task.
Balance isn’t something you achieve “someday”.
Nick Vujicic
In the very beginning, the new procedure was supposed to be an experiment. We as leaders wanted to check whether we are able to maintain productivity. Of course, this change, like every change, raised many questions and doubts. Can we all handle it? Will we keep our deadlines? How will this affect our communication? So we started by presenting the idea at a weekly team leader meeting.
Although everyone liked the concept in theory, it was necessary to focus on dispelling doubts. The vision of a shorter working day probably motivated everyone to efficiently implement and support the change.
And here we are: we work less but smarter.
Results so far – productivity, feedback
As befits a decent experiment, after a few weeks we surveyed the entire team. The results were surprisingly good! All unanimously agreed that they liked the change. Among the indicated benefits, among others, better life balance, more hours to enjoy during the day, and facilitating concentration were indicated.
“I feel it even increased my productivity since I feel more relaxed while working!”
Kambu team mate
Some people praised the fact that they are not exhausted after a day’s work and that they have energy for other activities. We also asked what disadvantages this solution has. The vast majority did not notice them, but it was noted that this way of working requires better planning, that there is less time to help other team members and sometimes there is not enough time for unexpected situations. The vast majority saw a positive effect on productivity, and believe it or not, nobody wants to go back to the 8-hour working day.
