Use the Hawthorne Effect to Increase Your Productivity
There is a fine line between micromanaging and over-monitoring and controlling enough so that you can do your job well. This line is actually called the Hawthorne effect, and it is a phenomenon where people are more productive when they feel like they are being watched. If you’ve ever noticed that you push yourself a little harder when you work out at the gym or in a group fitness class than when you work out alone, you’ve already understood this concept, but it can be applied to all types of workouts. scenarios that will make you more productive, even when no one is actually watching you.
What is the Hawthorne effect?
This phenomenon is said to have been discovered in some research carried out at the Western Power Station at Hawthorne, although there is debate as to whether this is true. What is not up for debate is the behavioral tendency itself: when someone is participating in an experiment, they may work a little harder than usual, knowing that they are being observed. Even outside of experiments, the awareness of being observed or controlled can improve performance slightly.
Researchers and social scientists have spent decades trying to figure out whether the Hawthorne effect described in early studies is real or not, but it is still a concept that has been described and studied for a long time—and which you may be interested in. Not everyone works better under the watchful eye of someone else, but if you’ve ever noticed that you work better when you check in with your boss regularly, stay more focused when you know your time is being monitored or get to work. When colleagues are looking for a leader, you may find it useful to take advantage of the Hawthorne Effect.
Productivity tools to consider:
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Rocketbook Everyday Planner ($38) lets you scan the physical pages of your notebook into devices, then erase them in real life, so you can use the same notebook over and over again. In fact, any Rocketbook product can do this, and they’re all great for keeping things organized.
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The Weekly Planner Notebook ($9.95 for 52 sheets) is great for setting weekly goals and keeping them on track.
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The Mini Goal Planning Notepad ($13.99) can be carried anywhere, so you have no excuse not to check it out.
How you can use the Hawthorne effect
You can’t bring yourself to watch, right? For example, you can’t ask your boss to keep an eye on you all the time; but there are several ways to create the feeling of being watched or checked and use this to be more productive. If you want to try applying the Hawthorne effect in your life, try these ideas:
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Demand regular meetings with your manager, even if it’s just a weekly 10-minute chat. Adding structured, scheduled conversations into your week will reinforce the sense that they will expect to hear about your recent work and results.
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Find an accountability partner. This could be a colleague, classmate, roommate, or anyone else who is working on something similar to what you are doing. Check in with them regularly, again on a set schedule, and always be prepared to update them on your progress.
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Use apps that make you feel like you’re being watched, at least when it comes to achieving your goals. Here’s a list of apps that can serve this purpose, whether you’re looking for a virtual accountability assistant or even one who acts like a demanding “boss” by sending you messages demanding confirmation of your progress.
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Work somewhere with other people around you, such as a coffee shop or shared workspace if you’re not in an office. This actually works great for me since I feel awkward zoning out or scrolling through social media if I ‘m working at a coffee shop . Logically, I know that no one there actually cares what I do, but oddly enough, I still want to appear productive in front of strangers.