Slow work is in response to the so-called culture of speed (the residue after the last decades of the twentieth century.), and for specific manifesto its promoters shall be deemed to Carl Honore'a booked titled "In Praise of slowness". The author calls it, in every area of life - including work - find the right rhythm for yourself.
The idea of slow work talking with Dr. Lidia Czarkowska, psychologist, sociologist and educator leading workshops, coaching and individual development programs for senior executives.
Slow work is a movement whose main objective is to work at your own pace. What exactly is this new trend?
Slow work is the idea of involving not so much on the slow work, but rather for carrying out activities in accordance with its own speed, optimal for the type of tasks. Is associated with popular last movements slow life, slow food or slow town, opposing the current in the 80s and 90s of the previous century, who said that we can, and indeed should, in the name of increased efficiency, act faster and faster. Currently, new technologies actually allow you to speed up in different areas of life, especially at work, but decreases the quality of our work. People began to yearn for a quieter, more consistent with the nature style of life to which incite movements slow.
Are the activities carried out in their own time to help the employee in a better, more effective job? Why?
Sometimes doing something slower, with greater concentration, paradoxically, can increase efficiency. In the long perspective of the work in accordance with its own rhythm is both the staff and the employer more profitable, as the energy worker is managed in an appropriate manner - a man is the more efficient and more creative. Thus, the work in accordance with its own rhythm especially suited to work in occupations that require intellectual and creative. Slow work shows that it is better to work slower, but smarter.
How to plan the time spent at work, to best suit our own rhythm?
Rhythm must be adapted to our daily cycle. From the perspective of cognitive psychology, dealing with, inter alia, the operation of our short-term memory, it follows that the time should be divided into at least two phases, during which we perform different kinds of tasks. From 7:00 to 24:30, better cognitive function associated with learning, solving difficult tasks, the search for new opportunities and creative work. After 15:00 and easier for us to follow steps already do not require creative thinking, and only analysis of existing materials, for example. Taking notes and organizing documents.
It is better to carry out work in the rhythm sections divided into 45-minute or hour and a half, between which there are short breaks to maintain concentration because everyone needs time to regenerate the body. In this paper, a more routine and restorative associated with e.g. Of responding to e-mails, I will recommend 45-minute blocks of work, followed by 5-7 min break. At this time, we should take a few deep breaths, drink some water, smarten up, and relax your eyes. Break longer than 7 minutes will be distracted, distracted from their tasks and to look for excuses to ensure that the maximum extend. Creative work requires while both longer cycles, for example half hours and longer breaks - lasting 15 or even 20 minutes, during which time we should relax and oxygenate the brain and eat something that will give us energy for the next part of the job.
Sometimes we hear how one of our friends complained that for several years he was on vacation. Not for financial reasons, but just for lack of time. Is this correct?
Taking longer breaks at work is very important. During the year, it would be good to have two long holidays, a minimum of two weeks - one in the winter, the second in the summer, and in addition two more shorter, for example, extended weekends around May and November. This rhythm helps to regenerate energy, improves cognitive abilities, but also what is important from the perspective of corporations, allows, thanks to a regular reduce stress, relieve internal disputes between employees, which always more or less born and affect the atmosphere in the company.
As to the idea of slow work to convince the employee who taught from an early age that he had to work several hours a day, as well as the employer, evaluating their subordinates after the number of hours spent in the company and the work completed "yesterday"?
In the 80s and 90s there was a myth that if you run longer and faster, it will achieve more; if you are busy enough, you will become someone important. Now it is known that such a procedure cannot be long-term. Person’s overloaded responsibilities make more mistakes; work on 60-70 percent of their capabilities. The employer gives you prefer another task to those who are very efficient, yet should not delegate further tasks to persons who usually work effectively and cannot, be the most afraid to refuse him. In time, after a certain limit possibilities, not willingly, will perform worse both additional tasks, as well as belonging to their daily duties.
Working a 10 or 12-hour physiologically is so unhealthy that it involves only the short-term effectiveness, lasting a maximum of two years. Then follows the usual syndrome of exhaustion or burnout. Energy deficit and the decline in activity in the end it does not pay neither the employee nor the company that eventually will have to resign from experienced and skilled already spent.
Furthermore, too long, tiring work associated with excessive levels of stress. Short-term stress is fine, but if you are going by, in a short time affects the health of the worker, both the physical and mental health. Biologically we are not adept to work under pressure.
What are the benefits of working in the rhythm of words?
Slowing perform actions not doing them in a hurry makes us more attentive, more accurate and current. Doing many things at once makes, it commenced operations finish what torments us even more than they do the same thing. It starts a vicious circle: when we know that something is not done or insufficiently had applied to it, we can focus on the next task, and after working hours on family life. Sometimes at night we cannot sleep, and the next day we come to the company exhausted and irritated, which even more difficult to focus and completion is started tasks.
Are new forms of employment (flextime, teleworking and Task Force) promote activities consistent with the idea of slow work? Why?
Telecommuting and flexible work hours, i.e. Selected by the employee, corresponding to its needs and enable fulfillment of other obligations resulting, for example. Of having a family, foster effective activities carried out in a shorter time, but also associated with certain risks. Not everyone is prepared to work remotely. Observation of the cultures in which this form of employment has gained popularity even in the twentieth century. Shows that some need a clear separation of private space, aiming rest and meetings of family or friends of business, hence the example. Decide to rent small offices in the city. Not everyone likes (and can) independently manage your time when working from home.
Some movements slow, like slow food, already had time to settle in Poland and still gaining new followers. Will it be too slow with the idea work? In this year's survey conducted by Manpower shows that more than 30 percent of employers faced with the problem of employment of talented personnel. The implementation of the principles of operation are compatible with the individual rhythm of the employee to enable him to perform duties in a favorable time for him and place and in the most appropriate form, may result in finding, and above all maintenance, valuable, experienced and qualified staff.