RW - 006: Rethinking Aging and Productivity - How to Bend But Not Break

Welcome to Reimagining Work where we challenge assumptions about what work can, and should, be in our lives. 

Did you know the future of work is about more than just technological advancements? 

It’s also about creating healthy connections between people and work that lead to fulfillment and meaning. 

So, please join me on this mission of eradicating soul-sucking work!

If you like my takes on the reimagination of work, please sign up for my FREE monthly newsletter on substack here to get it dropped directly in your inbox each week:

In each edition of Reimagining Work, I’ll share content that’s concise and challenges common assumptions concerning the future of work! The formatting and structure are consistent each week with unforgettable segments like:

• Perfect Labor Storm ⚡️- Jaw-dropping data and trends around the future of work 
• Weekly Connection 💡- The most important learning or unlearning from this week
• The Prescription 💊 - Tips and recommendations
• TL ; DR (Too Long; Didn’t Read) 🔎 - Bullet point summary of key takeaways
• The Journey Ahead 🔮 - What’s coming soon

Let’s begin!

Perfect Labor Storm ⚡️

• According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, productivity in the first half of 2022 plunged at its sharpest rate since 1947. 
• Ceridian reports that 61% of North American workers are more stressed about their finances than they were a year ago, the highest level of financial stress since 2008. Such widespread financial worry is leading to $664 billion in lost productivity for employers each year across North America.
• A Microsoft report in September of 2022 said the number of meetings per week had increased 153% globally for the average Microsoft Teams user since the start of the pandemic
• Mentions of burnout are up 42% on employee reviews on Glassdoor since 2019
• According to McKinsey and Company, top executives in flow are 500% more productive. 
• If executives in flow are 500% more productive that means they can produce the same amount of work on Monday as the rest of executives not in flow working M-T-W-Th-Fri 
• According to the Flow Research Collective, flow also helps people amplify creativity 400 to 700%, enables 490% faster skill acquisition, and a 430% increase in creative problem solving

Weekly Connection 💡

“If we are hunting the highest version of ourselves, then we need to turn work into play and not the other way around.” - Steven Kotler

In this week’s edition of Reimagining Work, we’re going to challenge long-held assumptions about productivity in this new everywhere, anywhere workplace - particularly as it pertains to peak performance as we age.

Why is this important?

We’re operating at breakneck speeds in the world of business now, so having systems in place to improve peak performance, efficiencies, and adaptability is a must to thrive in this world of accelerating change. 

But ironically, some leaders and organizations are looking to the past for answers instead of looking to the future.

For example, an increasing number of organizations are mandating additional hours, a return to the office, or using other various authoritarian tactics to force improved productivity from their teams. 

This is like trying to cram a Lamborghini engine into a Ford Fiesta. 

Such outdated practices go against the science of human capability, and no longer work successfully and sustainably in this future of work.

And it has created what some are calling, “The 4 Horsemen of RTO”.

What we know now is that working longer and harder days is a zero sum game that eventually leads to burnout and turnover - two sieves of human capability. 

So instead of increasing the number of hours worked and mandating where those hours are worked, what if we focused on improving peak performance whenever and wherever people work?

This is precisely the problem the Flow Research Collective is solving for individuals and organizations.

The Flow Research Collective is a peak performance research and training organization. They study the neuroscience of peak human performance, focused on the state of flow, in conjunction with scientists at institutions such as USC, Stanford, UCSF, Imperial College, and more.

If this is your first time reading about Flow, here’s a short definition to get started.

Flow is defined as a mental state of operation in which a person performing an activity is fully immersed in a feeling of energized focus resulting in optimal performance. It’s also called being “In the Zone”.

It’s beyond the scope of this week’s newsletter to cover all things flow, so I encourage you to visit the Flow Research Collective’s website linked above as well as this article on Medium for additional information.

But in addition to considering how flow can improve productivity and efficiency in an everywhere, anywhere workplace world, there’s another layer we need to briefly discuss as well that doesn’t get enough attention…

And this is the fact that certain human skills (e.g., empathy, creativity and wisdom to name a few) peak later in life, and we can retain up to 70% of our skills and abilities well into our golden years (80 and up).

This means some organizations may be pushing older generations out the door too soon (whether intentionally or inadvertently).

It turns out that the solutions to our workplace productivity challenges do not reside in authoritarian management practices of the past, but in developing systems to optimize flow, which, in turn, improves the longevity of skill retention and development.  

Consider this, experimental creativity doesn’t peak for most people until they’re in their 50’s. Experimental creativity is the type of creativity that builds on a person’s knowledge and accepted theories throughout their careers and ultimately leads to finding new and innovative ways to analyze that knowledge. 

• Experimental creativity is essential for innovation in organizations.

Empathy, or emotional intuition of others, also peaks in our 50’s. 

• Empathy is essential in leading and developing others in organizations.

And according to a 2010 study, wisdom peaks after 60 years of age for most. 

• Wisdom is essential for things such as analyzing a given conflict, seeing different points of view, gauging uncertainties, and envisioning solutions in organizations.

You get the picture.

So at this point, you’re probably wondering how to create flow cultures in your organizations.

Well, today’s your lucky day because we recently had the world’s leading expert on flow and human capability, Steven Kotler, on my top-rated podcast, The Geeks, Geezers, and Googlization Show , with my co-host Ira Wolfe to tackle this topic head on and offer some specific tips.

Here’s his short bio before you listen to his episode…

Steven Kotler is a New York Times bestselling author, an award-winning journalist, and the Executive Director of the Flow Research Collective. He is one of the world’s leading experts on human performance. He is the author of nine bestsellers (out of thirteen books total), including The Art of Impossible, The Future Is Faster Than You Think, Stealing Fire, The Rise of Superman, Bold and Abundance. His work has been nominated for two Pulitzer Prizes, translated into over 40 languages, and appeared in over 100 publications, including the New York Times Magazine, Wired, Atlantic Monthly, TIME and the Harvard Business Review. Steven is also the cohost of Flow Research Collective Radio, a top ten iTunes science podcast. Along with his wife, author Joy Nicholson, he is the co-founder of the Rancho de Chihuahua, a hospice and special needs dog sanctuary. 

And he has a brand new book coming out in Feb 2023, GNAR COUNTRY: Growing Old, Staying Rad. We were so excited to be one of the first to preview it and discuss it!

📺 Watch the full episode on Youtube below:

🎧 Or listen to the full podcast episode on your favorite audio platforms:

• Apple
• Spotify
• Amazon
• iHeart

Here were just a few of the connections Steven made on aging, peak performance, and productivity:

• The long, slow rot theory of mental abilities isn’t true. If we continue to use those skills well into our golden years we retain them far longer than previously thought possible
• Strength, stamina and all the other abilities we once believed declined over time, are now seen as use-it-or-lose-it skills. By training our bodies and brains for our later years, we can retain around 70% of these skills in our golden years.
• Beneficial brain changes occur in the second half of our lives, which—if properly cultivated—unlock whole new levels of intelligence, wisdom, creativity, and empathy.
• Ideal peak performance aging starts in our 20’s by pulling on the right cognitive, psychological, and lifestyle change levers
• In order to access these peak performance aging superpowers, there are moderators that must be met along the way. One of the first moderators is knowing who you are by the age of 30, because by the time you’re 40 you need to have match fit (who you are, your values, what you’re doing in the world). Then in your 50’s you have to forgive yourself and others who have done you harm in order to fully access the full spectrum of empathy and wisdom faculties
• In our 50’s, abstract reasoning (one of the highest order cognitive processes) soars because of neurobiological changes at this time
• Fear is a terrible motivator in the workplace in the long run. When we’re fearful, we’re not creative and it stifles higher order cognitive processes while the brain focuses on the fear instead. This means we must train up risk tolerance.
• Well-trained people over 50 year of age are the ideal players every organization needs on their teams instead of being viewed as over the hill or less valuable as younger staff
• The needed HR revolution in the 21st century is about understanding and tapping into human capability beyond what we previously thought was possible and doing it in such a way that it delivers internal motivation and value
• When hiring someone, every organization is actually hiring 2 people. They’re hiring the person when things go well, and they’re hiring the person when things don’t go well and they’re scared.
• Stimulating neurogenesis (the development of new neurons and neural networks) requires having more emotionally-charged events in novel outdoor environments. From a business perspective, this means making work meaningful to a person and allowing them flexibility to work in different environments of their choosing.
• Research has shown that the biggest predictor of those who thrived through COVID was how much time they spent in flow
• To get into a flow state, each person needs to know their flow triggers and primary flow activity. So in order to get more flow in your life, double down on your primary flow activity
• Increased motivation and creativity last typically 1-2 days beyond the end of the flow activity, so there are extended benefits from flow
• The best way to improve productivity is to increase the time spent in peak performance activity
• Open office designs destroy productivity and flow
• Distraction management is critical to getting in flow and producing. 90 minute blocks of undisturbed time are ideal for most people. 
• In order to establish team flow, all team members need to be bought into the same goal, want to achieve it and realize they cannot achieve it alone. This is called collective ambition.
• The engine for evolving and becoming more adaptable is by doing tasks that are 4% more challenging than our skillset. This causes us to stretch our skills without snapping.

The Prescription 💊

Here are the doctor’s orders to rethink productivity, peak performance, and aging:

• Sign up for the Flow Research Collective newsletter
• Pre-order Steven’s new book, Gnar Country: Growing Old, Staying Rad, coming out 2/27/22
• A few recommendations to consider:

Personal

• Choose a task that is challenging but achievable.
• Set clear goals and objectives for the task.
• Eliminate distractions and interruptions.
• Focus intensely on the task at hand.
• Take breaks as needed to rest and recharge.
• Engage in activities that you find enjoyable and meaningful.
• Find a balance between skill and challenge.

Business

• Eliminate unnecessary meetings, keep them small and to the point
• Establish rules of engagement across communication mediums
• Provide frequent, specific feedback on performance
• Set clear expectations and goals for remote work: It's important for employees to know what is expected of them and how their work fits into the overall goals of the company. This can help them stay focused and motivated.
• Create a dedicated workspace: Encourage employees to create a dedicated workspace at home, separate from other household activities. This can help them focus and be more productive.
• Encourage breaks and downtime: It's important for employees to take breaks and have downtime to recharge and refocus. Encourage employees to step away from their work and take breaks as needed.
• Foster communication and collaboration: Keep lines of communication open and encourage employees to collaborate and communicate with one another. This can help foster a sense of community and support, even while working remotely.
• Offer resources and support: Provide employees with the resources and support they need to be successful while working from home. This may include things like access to technology and software, training and development opportunities (e.g., flow), and mental health support.

TL;DR (Too Long; Didn’t Read) 🔎

• Productivity is declining because we’re using outdated management practices that hinder workers’ peak performance
• Rather than reverting to such outdated practices that stifle flow (mandating longer hours, return to office, etc.), instead implement supports and practices in your organization that support optimal flow in the new everywhere, anywhere workplace world
• Neuroscience research indicates top executives in flow are 500% more productive meaning they can produce the same amount of work on Monday as the rest of executives not in flow working M-T-W-Th-Fri 
• Flow also helps people amplify creativity 400 to 700%, enables 490% faster skill acquisition, and provides a 430% increase in creative problem solving
• Certain abilities that are essential for optimal productivity (i.e., creativity, empathy, and wisdom) don’t peak until our later years (50’s, 60’s, 70’s)
• This means some organizations may be pushing older generations out the door too soon (whether intentionally or inadvertently)
• To improve productivity in the future of work, supports are essential to optimize flow and leverage the unique cognitive abilities of older staff
• Flow is an engine for improving adaptability by engaging in tasks that are 4% more challenging than our current skillsets

The Journey Ahead 🔮

On January 12th at 11:00 ET, we're thrilled to welcome back the Odeon Capital crew for insights on the economy, jobs, and markets for 2023! 

Register for FREE using this link.

It's hard to believe that the year 2023 is already here! As uncertainty has become the norm, this year promises to be full of surprises. Many are wondering what the economic, job, and money markets will look like going forward. What’s at stake and how can business leaders prepare?

Who better to help us navigate these uncertain times but Richard Bove, a highly respected financial analyst (you’ve likely seen and heard him on shows like CNBC, Bloomberg News, Fox Business, CNN) and Odeon Capital Group’s co-founder and manager partner Mat Van Alstyne. Also joining us will be John Aidan Byrne, moderator and host of the popular ODEON CAPITAL CONVERSATIONS podcast with Mr. Bove and Mr. Van Alstyne. 

But until then, be sure to follow us on LinkedIn and subscribe on your favorite podcast platform so you never miss these must-listen episodes!

Whenever you're ready, there are 3 ways I can help you:

1. Subscribe to my top rated podcast (Geeks Geezers Googlization) concerning the Future of Work:

• Apple Podcasts
• Spotify
• Amazon
• iHeart Radio
• Stitcher

2. Join my virtual community (Googlization Nation) with fellow business and HR leaders focused on the Future of Work.

3. Discover your Purpose in 15 minutes.

• Unlock your WHY.os (WHY, HOW, & WHAT) and be who you were always meant to be!