It Doesn't Have to Be Crazy at Work

1. Embrace Calm: Reject the Hustle Culture

Sustained exhaustion is not a badge of honor, it's a mark of stupidity.

Reject the hustle mentality. The modern workplace often glorifies overwork, stress, and constant busyness. However, this approach is counterproductive and harmful to both individuals and businesses. Instead, embrace a calm work environment that values:

• Reasonable work hours (40 hours per week or less)
• Ample time off and vacations
• Focus on effectiveness rather than mere productivity
• Elimination of unnecessary work and distractions

By prioritizing calm, companies can foster creativity, improve decision-making, and maintain long-term sustainability. Remember that working longer hours doesn't necessarily lead to better results; it often leads to burnout and decreased quality of work.

2. Protect Time and Attention: The Most Precious Resources

Companies spend their employees' time and attention as if there were an infinite supply of both. Yet employees' time and attention are among the scarcest resources we have.

Guard against interruptions. Time and attention are invaluable assets that are often squandered in modern workplaces. To protect these resources:

• Implement "office hours" for subject matter experts
• Encourage asynchronous communication over real-time chat
• Create distraction-free work environments (e.g., "Library Rules" in open offices)
• Allow for long stretches of uninterrupted work time

By safeguarding employees' time and attention, companies enable deep work, boost creativity, and improve overall job satisfaction. Remember that every interruption comes at a cost, and it's the employer's responsibility to minimize these disruptions.

3. Rethink Meetings and Communication

If you can't be bothered to schedule a meeting without software to do the work, just don't bother at all. It probably wasn't necessary in the first place.

Minimize unnecessary meetings. Many companies waste countless hours on unproductive meetings and inefficient communication. To improve:

• Question the necessity of every meeting
• Use written communication for updates and discussions when possible
• Limit meeting participants to only those who are essential
• Set clear agendas and time limits for necessary meetings

Effective communication doesn't mean constant communication. By reducing the number of meetings and improving the quality of communication, companies can free up time for meaningful work and reduce stress levels.

4. Foster a Healthy Work Culture

Companies love to declare "We're all family here." No, you're not.

Build a supportive work environment. A healthy work culture is crucial for maintaining calm and productivity. Key aspects include:

• Treating employees as professionals, not family members
• Offering meaningful benefits that support work-life balance
• Implementing fair compensation practices
• Encouraging honest feedback and open communication

Avoid creating a culture of overwork or false urgency. Instead, focus on building an environment where employees feel valued, supported, and able to do their best work without unnecessary stress.

5. Simplify Project Management

Calm requires getting comfortable with enough.

Embrace simplicity in projects. Overcomplicating projects leads to stress and inefficiency. To simplify:

• Work in small teams (ideally three people)
• Set fixed deadlines with flexible scopes
• Focus on essential features and eliminate unnecessary complexity
• Embrace the "good enough" mentality for most tasks

By simplifying project management, companies can reduce stress, improve focus, and deliver results more consistently. Remember that perfection is often the enemy of progress, and that most projects can be completed successfully with a more streamlined approach.

6. Make Strategic Business Decisions

Your company is a product.

Treat your company as a product. Just as you would iterate and improve a product, continuously refine your company's processes and culture. Key strategies include:

• Regularly reassess and adjust company practices
• Be willing to say "no" to opportunities that don't align with your values
• Focus on long-term sustainability rather than short-term gains
• Make deliberate choices about who you serve and how you operate

By viewing your company as a product, you can more easily identify areas for improvement and make strategic decisions that align with your overall vision and values.

7. Maintain Profitability and Sustainable Growth

Until you're running a profitable business, you're always almost out of business.

Prioritize profitability. While growth is important, it shouldn't come at the expense of profitability. To maintain financial health:

• Focus on generating profit from the start
• Avoid the trap of chasing growth at all costs
• Be cautious about taking on outside investment
• Make strategic pricing decisions that support long-term sustainability

Profitability provides the freedom to make calm, rational decisions without the pressure of constantly chasing the next round of funding or appeasing investors with unsustainable growth metrics.

8. Embrace Change and Innovation Wisely

Launch and learn.

Balance innovation with stability. While it's important to evolve and improve, change should be implemented thoughtfully:

• Don't force unnecessary changes on existing customers
• Launch new features or products to learn from real-world usage
• Be willing to maintain older versions of products for customers who prefer them
• Focus on solving real problems rather than chasing trends

Innovation doesn't have to mean constant disruption. By carefully balancing change with stability, companies can continue to grow and improve while maintaining a calm work environment and satisfied customer base.

Last updated: October 19, 2024