New Survey Shows 47% Increase In Productivity: 3 Things You Must Do When Working From Home

Without using spyware or capturing keystrokes, a California-based company has tracked a 47% increase in worker productivity. Based on non-invasive technology that doesn’t grab user passwords, credit card info or other sensitive data, an eye-opening survey shows that smart companies are gaining ground by having workers work from home. What does the data tell us about how employees and team leaders can maximize output during the new normal?

Work life balance has been shattered for many, but savvy employees are putting the pieces back together in innovative and surprising ways. According to survey data compiled from 100 million data points across 30,000 users, here’s how team members are making the most out of their home office:

• The average worker starts work at 8:32 a.m. and ends work at 5:38 p.m
• Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday are the most productive days, in that order
• Telephone calls are up 230%
• CRM activity is up 176%
• Email is up 57% and chat is up 9%

“The common assumption is that remote workers are less productive than those who are in a traditional office. But our ability to capture, integrate, and analyze workplace data shows otherwise,” said Crisantos Hajibrahim, chief product officer at Prodoscore. Sam Naficy, the company’s CEO, spearheaded the work-from-home survey. He says, “Prodoscore is all about helping companies maximize the profit potential of their teams.” Based in Irvine, the company just closed series A funding last week. The round was led by Atom Factory Founder, Troy Carter (his investment plays include Uber, Lyft, Spotify and Warby Parker, to name a few).

What You Can Do To Maximize Your Productivity

If you want to match those productivity stats, or beat them, here are three things you can do right now to make an impact from your home office.

1. Get Comfortable – Rachel is a twentysomething product manager living in East Williamsburg, Brooklyn. She leans forward and points at her back, just above her hip. “This is where the problem started. Sitting in a cheap dining room chair for nine hours a day was not a good idea,” she explains. “I had to figure out where to put my so-called ‘office’”, she tells me via ZOOM, gesturing at all 500 square feet of the studio apartment behind her. Virginia Woolf said that you need a room of one’s own to truly create something meaningful. “Did that room have a decent chair?” Rachel wonders, leaning forward even further to show me the high-quality seat at the table that she occupies now. If you are able, consider a sit/stand desk, as an added measure. That way, you’re getting some movement and exercise during that next video call.
2. Build Boundaries – the study shows that working from home means setting a schedule. If you’re always on, your work is going to be off. Everyone needs to recharge, and whether that means stepping away for a Netflix break, a walk through the park or taking advantage of some of the social easing that’s taking place across the country, make sure you step away from your new office sometimes. As the saying goes, “Good fences make good neighbors”. Fencing off your work area – and the amount of time you spend at work – can help pump up your productivity. (For strategies on how to corral the kids when working from home, hit this Forbes article).
3. Reconfigure the Water Cooler – interacting with other workers is deliberate now. Chatting by the water cooler or coffee machine is a thing of the past, when you’re working from home. So how can you stay engaged and relevant, while getting the input and visibility you need in order to do your job? Leaders need to set up times for team interaction and reach out via text or other tools – Slack, perhaps, or whatever your favorite flavor might be. The important thing about any tool is the way that you use it. Make sure you’re turning technology into the connections that matter, even if it means scheduling impromptu conversations. Team members: reach out more often, get input whenever you can. Being isolated doesn’t mean we can’t stay connected. And you don’t have to jump on a plane or shake someone’s hand to make an impact: the survey data shows us that.

When you set up a comfortable space, create a routine and make sure you’re staying connected, you’re giving yourself every opportunity to succeed. As companies like Twitter and others rediscover the power of working from home, you can too. Your career and your productivity don’t have to suffer in isolation – not when you find smart ways to continue making an impact.