3 behaviours detrimental to productivity

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]In the working environment, we can come across phrases that hinder the smooth functioning of work. This is because they are expressions of attitudes resulting from demotivation, lack of initiative, lack of willingness to learn and improve. Let us see which are these phrases detrimental to productivity and what hides behind them.

“Who I am to…”

Have you ever encountered a person who likes to say “who am I to do this or that”? Somebody who says “this is not my job” or “I am not being paid to think”? Or are you by chance that person?

Nowadays the spectrum of tasks we carry out at work is ever wider. There are many positions where you find yourself doing more than your job description says, assuming you have one. Companies evolve and with that the tasks to be done and distributed amongst the workers. Do you image a shop owner saying “who I am I to clean up” or “who am I to cash up”? There may be tasks he or she likes more or less but they are still part of managing the business and need to get done if they cannot be delegated.

Something similar happens in offices. Now you might think: “But I am not the owner”. Let him do it.” If you think that way and are happy in your job, stop reading this post because you will disagree with what I am going to say. In the workplace, proactivity and commitment are appreciated. The “this is not my job” mentality is becoming obsolete because, as I mentioned, companies are evolving.

Have you ever heard or pronounced the comment “who am I to do that”? #Behaviours detrimental to #productivity Click To Tweet

Work evolves

Think about the progress of the tools we use in the office. Years ago, typewriters were used and all written correspondence prepared in paper. Typist prepared the documents from dictates or notes.

However, with the arrival of computers, also email came. Do you imagine someone saying “sending emails is not my job”? Most likely there were people in the beginning. Nonetheless, now we consider it normal. This is a simple example of the fact that something that you do not consider part of your job now can be tomorrow. In the past, the scope of tasks used to be more limited. But nowadays companies look more and more for polivalent workers.

So who are you to…? Well, somebody earning a salary in order to add value to the company you work for. Creating value means producing, improving or fixing something, be it a product or a service.

“I have been a … for … years”

In this category I count sentences like:

• “I have been with the company for 20 years” wanting to say that he/she knows everything better than anybody else and does not need to learn anything new.
• “I have been (introduce profession) for 15 years”, feeling offended by a criticism or suggestion for improvement.

Of course, I respect and defend work experience. However, I do not defend when these phrases are used as a shield against learning and constructive criticism.

The profession you have learnt can give you a knowledge base for your work. However, if you do not put this knowledge into practice and continue learning, it will become obsolete and you will not gain experience. From personal experience, there are many things I did not learn during my studies but at work out of curiosity, willingness to learn and contribute.

With regards to hiding behind the years one has been at a company, in my opinion years of work is not always the same as experience. It depends on your attitude and how you face projects, problems and adversities. If you search actively for solutions and improvements and learn from mistakes you will gain experience.

Let us see an example. On one hand we have “Who am I to” and on the other hand a person interested in learning and understanding how the company functions, proactive and willing to provide solutions. Who do you think gains more work experience?

Do you hide behind the years you have been at a company or in a profession when you receive #constructivecriticism or a proposal for #improvement? #Behaviours detrimental to #productivity Click To Tweet

“It has always been done this way”

When tackling a task or project we might face the comment “but it has always been that way”. If there is a phrase, and underlying attitude, detrimental to productivity, it is this one. It indicates resistance to the new, to change and to evolution. Out of comfort and attachment to the known, it is not questioned whether there good be a better way of doing a certain task.

However, as I mentioned before, work and tools evolve. Moreover, the workload increases. Therefore, considering whether a task is being carried out in the best way or there is a more effective one should be part of our day-to-day.

Have you ever heard the phrase “it has always been done that way”? #Attachment to the known, fear of #change and lack of willingness to #learn harm #productivity Click To Tweet

Do you find yourself saying any of these phrases?

Then I am glad that you have read the post so far; because maybe this means that deep down you know you could improve your attitude and productivity. In that case I suggest you pose some questions: Could I be demotivated or burned out? Am I attached to the know, or in other words, afraid of change? Do I feel attacked when somebody suggests an improvement to my work? Why am I not open to improvements that could benefit the company’s productivity and my own performance? Have I been recycling my knowledge and learning new things? Have I considered why I do tasks in a certain way and if there is a better way to carry them out?

I suggest you take on a positive and curious attitude. If you feel that your work adds value to the company, you will feel more motivated. Both gaining new knowledge and working more productively will help. If you look for a more effective way of doing your job, you will also gain time to dedicate to other important tasks. Furthermore, having initiative and being proactive are highly demanded traits in the world of work. Working more effectively, that is knowing how to set priorities and looking for the best way to carry out tasks, is essential in order to avoid work overload and to adapt to the constant evolution of the workplace.

#Proactivity and willingness to #learn and contribute with #solutions and #results help #motivation and #productivity Click To Tweet

Do you face people saying any of these phrases?

For those of us who are proactive, believe in a job well done, in looking for solutions and getting results, it can be exasperating to face these behaviours detrimental to productivity. If this is your case, first I suggest you consider what underlies the comment. Might the other person be demotivated? Could he/she be afraid of change? Maybe he/she feels insecure?

When suggesting an improvement to their way of working try not to take it to personal level. That is, do not attack the person. Rather assertively set out the benefits that looking for the best way to do things has for his/her and the company’s productivity as well as for work results. If appropriate, you may also appeal to team spirit.

Does lack of #productivity and #proactivity exasperate you? Suggest #improvements with #assertiveness and explaining the #benefits Click To Tweet

¿Have you encountered any of these behaviours detrimental to productivity?

Do you know people who say these phrases detrimental to productivity? Have you maybe pronounced any of them yourself? Can you think of any other sentences of this type?

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