Ugh, productivity paranoia?

Headlines are still dissecting “quiet quitting,” but now there’s another alliterative term: “productivity paranoia,” referring to bosses who worry that workers aren’t doing their jobs.

In a recent report on hybrid work, Microsoft found:

• 87% of workers say they’re productive at work…
• … While just 12% of leaders say they’re confident that their team is productive
• Hybrid supervisors are less trusting than in-person managers (36% to 49%)

This lack of trust has led to tracking software and other methods to retain control over remote workers (which doesn’t work).

Employees not only dislike it, they subvert it. (Remember mouse jigglers?)

And leaders have since developed what Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella calls productivity paranoia, despite findings that both meetings and productivity metrics have increased.

Microsoft’s conclusion?

Quit the productivity paranoia!

Pivot from stressing over whether employees are working enough to helping them prioritize what’s most important. That includes clarifying what to do and what not to do, and rewarding impact over activity.