新冠肺炎疫情暴露了一些讓人煩惱的工作習(xí)慣,最重點(diǎn)的一項(xiàng)就是:上班人士離不開的會(huì)議。
超過(guò)三分之二的員工抱怨,會(huì)議讓他們無(wú)法保證工作效率。超過(guò)三分之一的員工反映,每天花2至5小時(shí)在電話和會(huì)議上,卻難以看到產(chǎn)出。
“他們每天都被困在反應(yīng)模式中玩打地鼠游戲?!盞he Hy上周在他的RadReads博客中寫道。這個(gè)博客主要談?wù)摴ぷ髋c生產(chǎn)力的交集等話題。他說(shuō),員工的不爽來(lái)自于“感覺自己是行事歷的囚徒——從一個(gè)會(huì)議跳到另一個(gè)會(huì)議,沒有時(shí)間進(jìn)行思考”,同時(shí)他們也在忍受“無(wú)意識(shí)的環(huán)境切換,因?yàn)椴淮_定自己應(yīng)該專注于什么”。
從今年4月和5月做的一項(xiàng)調(diào)查發(fā)現(xiàn),三分之一的受訪者認(rèn)為,在全部或絕大部分時(shí)間里,“這次會(huì)議可能用一封電子郵件就解決了”。疫情爆發(fā)一年多以來(lái),許多人仍然在飽受技術(shù)問(wèn)題煩惱(41%)。
想要立即解決開會(huì)問(wèn)題,這三個(gè)重要的方法或可一試:為會(huì)議日期和時(shí)長(zhǎng)訂立規(guī)則和政策;使用適用于異步工作的新工具;以及,讓管理人員受到更好的培訓(xùn),使會(huì)議更有利于激發(fā)創(chuàng)造力和頭腦風(fēng)暴。
為會(huì)議制定新規(guī)則
為了滿足混合式工作團(tuán)隊(duì)更長(zhǎng)遠(yuǎn)的需求,埃森哲(Accenture)近期向北美區(qū)員工發(fā)布了工作指南。埃森哲北美區(qū)的首席執(zhí)行官吉米·埃瑟里奇認(rèn)為:“這里存在一個(gè)很大的文化變量——作為A類顧問(wèn),我們?cè)诮⒐ぷ鳎钸吔鐣r(shí)遇到了文化障礙??梢哉f(shuō),我們做得還不夠好?!痹摴咎岢隽艘韵赂淖儯?/font>
? 限制每周五的團(tuán)隊(duì)內(nèi)部/經(jīng)常性會(huì)議時(shí)間,讓個(gè)人能夠獨(dú)立地工作,專注于客戶和戰(zhàn)略性思考,或在有需要時(shí)有時(shí)間休假。(這也為高質(zhì)量的一對(duì)一會(huì)議騰出了時(shí)間。)
? 建立符合團(tuán)隊(duì)特殊需求的“工作時(shí)間制”,嘗試將會(huì)議限制在這些時(shí)間段進(jìn)行,這樣在遇到緊急事項(xiàng)時(shí)就有更多的選擇。
? 將會(huì)議時(shí)長(zhǎng)從30分鐘壓縮到25分鐘(或從60分鐘減少到50分鐘),以便大家有時(shí)間檢查電子郵件、走出去放空下或以其他方式換換頭腦。
? 利用會(huì)議來(lái)辯論、討論和做決策,而不是用來(lái)做匯報(bào)演講或更新工作進(jìn)展。會(huì)議前,鼓勵(lì)大家提供會(huì)議和演說(shuō)資料,便于與會(huì)者預(yù)先閱讀。
? 尊重休息時(shí)間和周末,如非緊急事項(xiàng),盡量管住自己不給同事發(fā)電子郵件、發(fā)短信或打電話。
? 不少公司都希望利用這個(gè)夏天,協(xié)助員工解決因?yàn)橐咔樵斐傻墓ぷ鳎彝ソ缦弈:龁?wèn)題,過(guò)渡到邊界清晰、兩者更平衡的狀態(tài)。對(duì)他們來(lái)說(shuō),這套指南似乎值得一試。
讓開會(huì)的體驗(yàn)更好
“混合型辦公室不能受到時(shí)間和空間的束縛。”視覺通信軟件公司Prezi的首席執(zhí)行官吉姆·沙弗蘭斯基認(rèn)為。“如果內(nèi)容很好,那我們看到要開會(huì)時(shí),就不會(huì)那么心累了?!?/font>
Prezi提供與現(xiàn)有視頻會(huì)議軟件能夠兼容的工具,但允許用戶在屏幕上做虛擬演示匯報(bào)(他們看起來(lái)更像一位新聞播報(bào)員,而無(wú)需疲于在屏幕來(lái)回共享和切換電腦桌面上的數(shù)個(gè)窗口)。
為了提升會(huì)議體驗(yàn),沙弗蘭斯基提到了提供基本項(xiàng)目資料,還有整合音頻、視頻與常規(guī)通信方式等建議,具體包括:
? 記錄項(xiàng)目早期啟動(dòng)會(huì)議;“新人加入時(shí),可能會(huì)覺得自己是局外人?!彼f(shuō)?!岸ㄟ^(guò)回放四個(gè)項(xiàng)目初期會(huì)議記錄,人們?nèi)菀桩a(chǎn)生被納入其中的感覺。”
? 通過(guò)反復(fù)發(fā)送視頻或音頻信息,鼓勵(lì)異步工作。并非所有工作都需要依靠電子郵件或會(huì)議,雙方可以在時(shí)間都方便的時(shí)候溝通工作。
? 考慮用視頻來(lái)展示視覺效果和電子表格。他說(shuō):“使用異步視頻,我們就能夠跳過(guò)會(huì)議。”如此一來(lái),人們僅需專注5分鐘,而不是半小時(shí)。
首要秘訣:謹(jǐn)記會(huì)議要點(diǎn)
谷歌TV(Googe TV)的副總裁沙里尼·古德曼-派不得不靠推出產(chǎn)品,以及建立和管理遠(yuǎn)程團(tuán)隊(duì)來(lái)渡過(guò)疫情時(shí)期?!白晕腋綦x感覺不能為協(xié)作式頭腦風(fēng)暴提供最佳的環(huán)境。但是,我們?nèi)绾尾拍軌蚓S持正常的工作形態(tài)呢?”她說(shuō)。“我們是否總是需要面對(duì)面地開會(huì),在白板上涂畫,在便箋上寫字呢?在常言道的‘另一邊’,頭腦風(fēng)暴和創(chuàng)意發(fā)想過(guò)程會(huì)是什么樣呢?”
她建議:
? 設(shè)定開會(huì)禮儀,比如降低語(yǔ)速慢慢講話,以及要求與會(huì)者關(guān)閉繁多的瀏覽器窗口,并讓其他設(shè)備處于靜音狀態(tài)。
? 不要把頭腦風(fēng)暴的壓力僅限于視頻談話中;應(yīng)該把注意力放在提出更好的問(wèn)題上,而不是尋找完美的答案。
? 開線上會(huì)議時(shí)可以使用紙質(zhì)記事本,這種舉動(dòng)甚至應(yīng)該受到鼓勵(lì)。她說(shuō):“紙張會(huì)改變我們的思維方式,有利于更快地構(gòu)思?!?/font>
? 考慮使用能夠?qū)崿F(xiàn)紙張和白板功能的工具,比如Jamboard(協(xié)作式數(shù)碼白板)。
“頭腦風(fēng)暴是一個(gè)三維立體過(guò)程?!彼f(shuō)?!叭绾卧诙S世界里達(dá)成這一效果呢?環(huán)境可能不同,但我們必須得有創(chuàng)造力?!保ㄘ?cái)富中文網(wǎng))
譯者:Emily
新冠肺炎疫情暴露了一些讓人煩惱的工作習(xí)慣,最重點(diǎn)的一項(xiàng)就是:上班人士離不開的會(huì)議。
超過(guò)三分之二的員工抱怨,會(huì)議讓他們無(wú)法保證工作效率。超過(guò)三分之一的員工反映,每天花2至5小時(shí)在電話和會(huì)議上,卻難以看到產(chǎn)出。
“他們每天都被困在反應(yīng)模式中玩打地鼠游戲。”Khe Hy上周在他的RadReads博客中寫道。這個(gè)博客主要談?wù)摴ぷ髋c生產(chǎn)力的交集等話題。他說(shuō),員工的不爽來(lái)自于“感覺自己是行事歷的囚徒——從一個(gè)會(huì)議跳到另一個(gè)會(huì)議,沒有時(shí)間進(jìn)行思考”,同時(shí)他們也在忍受“無(wú)意識(shí)的環(huán)境切換,因?yàn)椴淮_定自己應(yīng)該專注于什么”。
從今年4月和5月做的一項(xiàng)調(diào)查發(fā)現(xiàn),三分之一的受訪者認(rèn)為,在全部或絕大部分時(shí)間里,“這次會(huì)議可能用一封電子郵件就解決了”。疫情爆發(fā)一年多以來(lái),許多人仍然在飽受技術(shù)問(wèn)題煩惱(41%)。
想要立即解決開會(huì)問(wèn)題,這三個(gè)重要的方法或可一試:為會(huì)議日期和時(shí)長(zhǎng)訂立規(guī)則和政策;使用適用于異步工作的新工具;以及,讓管理人員受到更好的培訓(xùn),使會(huì)議更有利于激發(fā)創(chuàng)造力和頭腦風(fēng)暴。
為會(huì)議制定新規(guī)則
為了滿足混合式工作團(tuán)隊(duì)更長(zhǎng)遠(yuǎn)的需求,埃森哲(Accenture)近期向北美區(qū)員工發(fā)布了工作指南。埃森哲北美區(qū)的首席執(zhí)行官吉米·埃瑟里奇認(rèn)為:“這里存在一個(gè)很大的文化變量——作為A類顧問(wèn),我們?cè)诮⒐ぷ鳎钸吔鐣r(shí)遇到了文化障礙??梢哉f(shuō),我們做得還不夠好?!痹摴咎岢隽艘韵赂淖儯?/font>
? 限制每周五的團(tuán)隊(duì)內(nèi)部/經(jīng)常性會(huì)議時(shí)間,讓個(gè)人能夠獨(dú)立地工作,專注于客戶和戰(zhàn)略性思考,或在有需要時(shí)有時(shí)間休假。(這也為高質(zhì)量的一對(duì)一會(huì)議騰出了時(shí)間。)
? 建立符合團(tuán)隊(duì)特殊需求的“工作時(shí)間制”,嘗試將會(huì)議限制在這些時(shí)間段進(jìn)行,這樣在遇到緊急事項(xiàng)時(shí)就有更多的選擇。
? 將會(huì)議時(shí)長(zhǎng)從30分鐘壓縮到25分鐘(或從60分鐘減少到50分鐘),以便大家有時(shí)間檢查電子郵件、走出去放空下或以其他方式換換頭腦。
? 利用會(huì)議來(lái)辯論、討論和做決策,而不是用來(lái)做匯報(bào)演講或更新工作進(jìn)展。會(huì)議前,鼓勵(lì)大家提供會(huì)議和演說(shuō)資料,便于與會(huì)者預(yù)先閱讀。
? 尊重休息時(shí)間和周末,如非緊急事項(xiàng),盡量管住自己不給同事發(fā)電子郵件、發(fā)短信或打電話。
? 不少公司都希望利用這個(gè)夏天,協(xié)助員工解決因?yàn)橐咔樵斐傻墓ぷ鳎彝ソ缦弈:龁?wèn)題,過(guò)渡到邊界清晰、兩者更平衡的狀態(tài)。對(duì)他們來(lái)說(shuō),這套指南似乎值得一試。
讓開會(huì)的體驗(yàn)更好
“混合型辦公室不能受到時(shí)間和空間的束縛。”視覺通信軟件公司Prezi的首席執(zhí)行官吉姆·沙弗蘭斯基認(rèn)為。“如果內(nèi)容很好,那我們看到要開會(huì)時(shí),就不會(huì)那么心累了。”
Prezi提供與現(xiàn)有視頻會(huì)議軟件能夠兼容的工具,但允許用戶在屏幕上做虛擬演示匯報(bào)(他們看起來(lái)更像一位新聞播報(bào)員,而無(wú)需疲于在屏幕來(lái)回共享和切換電腦桌面上的數(shù)個(gè)窗口)。
為了提升會(huì)議體驗(yàn),沙弗蘭斯基提到了提供基本項(xiàng)目資料,還有整合音頻、視頻與常規(guī)通信方式等建議,具體包括:
? 記錄項(xiàng)目早期啟動(dòng)會(huì)議;“新人加入時(shí),可能會(huì)覺得自己是局外人?!彼f(shuō)?!岸ㄟ^(guò)回放四個(gè)項(xiàng)目初期會(huì)議記錄,人們?nèi)菀桩a(chǎn)生被納入其中的感覺。”
? 通過(guò)反復(fù)發(fā)送視頻或音頻信息,鼓勵(lì)異步工作。并非所有工作都需要依靠電子郵件或會(huì)議,雙方可以在時(shí)間都方便的時(shí)候溝通工作。
? 考慮用視頻來(lái)展示視覺效果和電子表格。他說(shuō):“使用異步視頻,我們就能夠跳過(guò)會(huì)議。”如此一來(lái),人們僅需專注5分鐘,而不是半小時(shí)。
首要秘訣:謹(jǐn)記會(huì)議要點(diǎn)
谷歌TV(Googe TV)的副總裁沙里尼·古德曼-派不得不靠推出產(chǎn)品,以及建立和管理遠(yuǎn)程團(tuán)隊(duì)來(lái)渡過(guò)疫情時(shí)期?!白晕腋綦x感覺不能為協(xié)作式頭腦風(fēng)暴提供最佳的環(huán)境。但是,我們?nèi)绾尾拍軌蚓S持正常的工作形態(tài)呢?”她說(shuō)?!拔覀兪欠窨偸切枰鎸?duì)面地開會(huì),在白板上涂畫,在便箋上寫字呢?在常言道的‘另一邊’,頭腦風(fēng)暴和創(chuàng)意發(fā)想過(guò)程會(huì)是什么樣呢?”
她建議:
? 設(shè)定開會(huì)禮儀,比如降低語(yǔ)速慢慢講話,以及要求與會(huì)者關(guān)閉繁多的瀏覽器窗口,并讓其他設(shè)備處于靜音狀態(tài)。
? 不要把頭腦風(fēng)暴的壓力僅限于視頻談話中;應(yīng)該把注意力放在提出更好的問(wèn)題上,而不是尋找完美的答案。
? 開線上會(huì)議時(shí)可以使用紙質(zhì)記事本,這種舉動(dòng)甚至應(yīng)該受到鼓勵(lì)。她說(shuō):“紙張會(huì)改變我們的思維方式,有利于更快地構(gòu)思?!?/font>
? 考慮使用能夠?qū)崿F(xiàn)紙張和白板功能的工具,比如Jamboard(協(xié)作式數(shù)碼白板)。
“頭腦風(fēng)暴是一個(gè)三維立體過(guò)程?!彼f(shuō)?!叭绾卧诙S世界里達(dá)成這一效果呢?環(huán)境可能不同,但我們必須得有創(chuàng)造力。”(財(cái)富中文網(wǎng))
譯者:Emily
The pandemic exposed some terrible workplace habits. Chief among them: our dependence on meetings.
More than two-thirds of workers complain that meetings keep them from being productive. And more than a third say they spend 2 to 5 hours per day on calls and meetings—with little to show for it.
“They’ve been stuck in react mode playing whack-a-mole each day,” wrote Khe Hy last week in his RadReads blog that covers the intersection of work and productivity, among other topics. The toll on workers, he said, is “feeling like a prisoner to your calendar—jumping from meeting to meeting with no time to think” and suffering from “mindlessly context-switching because you’re not sure what you should be focusing on.”
A survey conducted in April and May found a third of respondents thinking “this meeting could have been an email” all or most of the time. More than a year into the pandemic, many still struggle with technical issues (41 percent).
Three key areas emerge as ways we can fix meetings right away: official rules and policies on when to have them and for how long, new tools favoring asynchronous work, and better training among managers to make meetings more conducive to creativity and brainstorming.
The new rules for meetings
To meet the more permanent nature of a hybrid work force, Accenture recently issued guidance for employees in North America. "There is a big cultural change component—as type-A consultants, we have a cultural hurdle to establishing work/life boundaries and being ok saying we’re not ok," said Jimmy Etheredge, CEO of North America at Accenture. Among changes at the company:
? Limiting internal team/recurring meetings on Fridays to allow time for independent work, focus on clients, strategic thinking, or time off when needed. (This also opens up time for quality one-on-one meetings.)
? Establishing “business hours” that accommodate the unique needs of the team and trying to limit meetings to those hours and being more selective about what is considered urgent.
? Reducing meeting times to 25 minutes instead of 30 (or 50 minutes instead of 60) to allow for time to check email or step outside or otherwise reset.
? Utilizing meetings for debate, discussion and decision-making rather than presentations or status updates. Encourage meeting materials and presentations be offered before meetings so attendants can pre-read.
? Respecting time off and weekends by resisting the temptation to email, ping or call colleagues for anything non-urgent.
This playbook seems worth a try for many companies using this summer to transition from the blurry life of work and home created by the pandemic into more balanced situations with guard rails.
Making meetings better
“The hybrid office can’t be tied to time and space,” declared Jim Szafranski, the CEO of Prezi, a visual communications software company. “If the content is good, then we see it’s not as fatiguing to have meetings.”
Prezi offers tools that integrate with existing videoconferencing software but allow users to give a virtual presentation within the screen (so they look more like a newscaster than someone screensharing and toggling among dozens of tabs on a desktop).
To make meetings better, Szafranski’s tips range from basic protocols to integrating audio and video into regular communications. Among them:
? Record early kickoff meetings for projects; “When someone new joins, that person can feel like an outsider,” he said. “Or they can feel included by replaying those first four project meetings.”
? Encourage asynchronous work by sending video or audio messages back and forth. Not everything needs to be an email—or a meeting. You can talk when it’s convenient for each party.
? Consider narrating visuals and spreadsheets with video. “The use of asynchronous video allows us to skip meetings,” he said. And that might mean five minutes of attention versus a half-hour.
Remember the point of meetings in the first place
Shalini Govil-Pai, a vice president at Google TV, has had to launch products, and build and manage remote teams through the pandemic. “Self-isolation doesn’t sound like the optimal environment for collaborative brainstorming. But how can we make this work?” she said. “Do we always need to meet face to face — drawing on a whiteboard, writing on sticky pads? What does brainstorming and the creative process look like on the proverbial ‘other side’?”
She advises:
? Set up meeting etiquette, from the need to speak slowly to asking participants to close competing browser tabs and silence other devices.
? Don’t put the pressure of brainstorming on video chat alone; focus on asking better questions over finding perfect answers.
? Paper note-taking in virtual meetings is fine, even encouraged. “Paper changes how we think and allows for more rapid ideation,” she said.
? Consider tools that recreate paper and whiteboards, such as Jamboard.
“Brainstorming is a three-dimensional process,” she said. “How will it survive in a two-dimensional world? It’s not the same but we’ve got to get creative.”