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Doing More with Less

Sunday, February 7, 2010 by Slaughter Development

Joblessness is still high, labor costs are down, and unemployment claims are up. When times are tough, businesses must do more with less.

It’s easy to characterize this environment as one of tragedy and even oppression. Just look at this quote from an article in The Villiage Voice, which is omniously titled Row Harder, Slaves! Productivity, Unemployment Claims Up, Costs Down:

Good news for whip-crackers: In the fourth quarter of 2009, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reveals, U.S. productivity rose at a 6.2 percent annualized rate — output up 7.2 percent, hours worked up one percent.

Put simply: The declining number of us who are still working are working harder and getting more done, and being not being compensated accordingly. But you probably knew that.

Millions of Americans would probably agree with the final sentiment from this piece. Yet there’s more involved in productivity than simply putting in more hours or moving faster. Rather, the economic downturn is also an opportunity to work smarter.

If you’ve been putting off learning a new skill, upgrading your equipment, or organizing your files, now is a great time to make this change. If there is any time that you will need the extra time afforded by a more productive work environment, it’s during a recession.  If you’re a supervisor, be sure to recognize that your employees feel the strain as much as you do. Asking them to work harder will almost always be demoralizing. But supporting innovation, self-improvement and additional training during the “worst economic crisis since the Great Depression” will remind your team just how important they are to the organization.

Think beyond working harder. Work smarter. Contact Slaughter Development today to learn more.

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Like this post? Here are some related entries from The Methodology Blog you might enjoy:

Stakeholders vs. Shareholders - Pop quiz: What’s the difference between a stakeholder and a shareholder? Here’s a hint: it’s at the root of some recent problems affecting Indiana communities. Read on »
Bad Economy Brings Longer Weekends - There’s good news for professionals on the cusp of unemployment: Accept three day weekends and you get to keep your job. Instead of having employees work overtime to compensate for financial distress, employers are handing out, believe it or not, vacation time.  Read on »
Reynolds on ROWE - Over at the More Than a Few Words podcast, two Indianapolis small business owners recently discussed the benefits of a Results-Oriented Work Environment. That’s more than a buzzword—ROWE is a radically different perspective on running a business. Read on »
Want to learn more? Register now for the 2011 Productivity Series

One Response to “Doing More with Less”

  1. Cara Dafforn Says:

    Ask for more and do less

    Sympathy and a positive attitude don’t pay the mortgage or grocery bills. Concurrently taking on additional responsibilities without fair pay does not add jobs to the marketplace or extend your life. With 52% of the workforce being women, too many of us are not asking for our fair share. I am appealing to the keepers of the hearth when you come home late or give your weekend away. STOP! Your children are obese and our gardens are empty. Malnutrition is rampant and no one is tending the kitchen garden. I empathize with the women who get up to iron shirts to “Do more with less”. You are honored for squeezing the extra load of laundry and trimming the budget while doing without.

    But ask yourself the question…who is benefiting when I work for free?
    Demand a paycheck for your labors. Ask your partners for a deposit into your own bank account. Ask your employer for a raise when they give you more work. Define your own terms and become a contract employee.

    14.3 million unemployed and more discouraged. Where are the green jobs or has all the “green” gone to the wallstreet. This forum has been active since January 18th. Plant a garden and have a tea party. Washington has to change and main street needs to wake up.

    Twittering @kitchengardener

  2. Robby Slaughter Says:

    Thanks for your comments, Cara!

    No one should be encouraged to work for free. Even asking employees to put in unpaid overtime is technically unethical.

    But the call to “do more with less” doesn’t only mean asking people to work extra time without pay. The phrase can also inspire people to be innovative. Biking to work, for example, is good for the environment and is faster than walking.

    The challenge of a tight economy is that we assume that the only place to find savings is by working harder. Not only is this untrue, it’s directly hurtful to those who are doing the work. Instead, the best way to survive a tight economy is to work smarter. You saved time promoting your message by duplicating the same text on our website as well as AGreenerIndiana.com. You could have worked harder, typing each message individually, but instead you worked smarter, cross-posting your message.

    Please continue to promote a healthy relationship toward work!

  3. Cara Dafforn Says:

    Robby:

    Polite women rarely make history … and while I am courteous to all, but intimate with few; your blog incited a riot of feelings and a maelstorm of personal examples of raw emotion. Yet your response leaves me with more questions.

    When attrition, demotion or termination leads to the redefinition of a job description without fair compensation who benefits?

    Creativity and innovation are not the results of “doing more with less” It directly means less people at the table and thus less diversity of thought. Finding savings is just another corporate propganda spin that comes at a price to Cara the citywife.

    Your responses are welcomed on http://www.agreenerindiana.com in the green jobs group where people are making Indiana greener and waiting to work period.

  4. Robby Slaughter Says:

    Be happy to continue this conversation on your website.

  5. Cara Dafforn Says:

    Your stomach does flip-flops. Your face becomes red-hot. You feel your pulse race as you watch your officemate pack up his personalized coffee mug, his framed wedding photo, that cute little thingy on this desk that you never could figure out, and other accoutrements. He is then quietly escorted into the elevator and out of the building by a security guard. He, who sat at the desk beside yours, had loyally worked long hours for the company for over ten years. He always looked busy and everyone seemed to like him and laugh at his jokes. Coworkers pondered that he might even be up for a promotion. What could he have done that got him fired without much warning? You toss and turn all night as this question ruminates in your brain. Nothing it’s just “Doing more with less” or “Creating a new team”

  6. Cara Dafforn Says:

    This is in your article

    “Put simply: The declining number of us who are still working are working harder and getting more done, and being not being compensated accordingly. But you probably knew that.”

    Please promote a healthy relationship to work!

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