It seems we are always searching for that “silver bullet” that will be the answer to all our dilemmas. An upcoming seminar from Slaughter Development outlines one solution as a handy formula: Productivity + Satisfaction = Results.

The ultimate purpose of work is results. It’s not meetings, internal emails, or water-cooler conversations (although we may need to do this tasks along the way.) Instead, the reason we make companies is because we want to build products and deliver services to actual customers. There are many components to a good working environment, but we can all agree that to keep the lights on and the paychecks coming we need to generate something valuable.

Every manager, business owner and even some employees are tempted to believe that the relationship between effort and outcome is simple. Put in more time and energy, get more in return. If you spend four hours instead of two digging a ditch, shouldn’t you get about twice as far?

This viewpoint is attractive, but we know it’s false. “I’ll just come in over the weekend and wrap this up,” we tell ourselves. Yet we know that we need our rest and time away from work. Even the ditchdigger might be better off with ten minute breaks every hour rather than working for four hours straight. Wouldn’t you expect him to make more progress with a chance to occasionally take a drink of water and catch his breath?

Instead, achieving more requires a higher level of thinking. We can’t just measure the amount of time spent at the office. People who become obsessed with each working minute sometimes end up doing crazy things like measuring bathroom breaks or setting up motion sensors keyed to go off when employees walk too slowly.

We also know that people aren’t really motivated by money as much as they are driven by a sense of engagement. We care about work when we find it meaningful. Once employees start to feel empowered, they have incredible drive and enthusiasm.

The formula for results depends on two factors. First: a measure for progress based on value, not just time. We call that productivity. Second, a measure of personal connection to work which represents pride of ownership. That’s not just excitement, it is satisfaction.. This gives us a new formula:

Learn more in our upcoming session in the 2011 Productivity Series. The program is entitled Productivity + Satisfaction = Results and takes place on Wednesday, April 6. We’d love to see you there! Register today!

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