GOING DARK

How mandatory screen-breaks can boost productivity.

In the business world, less can often be more.

There are times when it makes sense for our employees to work less to become more productive. After researching some productivity-boosting strategies last year, I decided to implement one across my company. Screen-free time is now a daily fixture at Creative Niche.

Before you roll your eyes in anticipation of learning about yet another gimmick-driven tactic to make employees work better/faster/smarter — enter your preferred cliché — hear me out. I’ve long been a proponent of increased workplace productivity because finding new ways to improve efficiency is a sure fire way to improve bottom-line performance. It’s the end goal all of us pursue as entrepreneurs. But it wasn’t until I took the time to analyze the dynamics of our workplace culture that screenfree time really made sense.

Here’s how it works. Every day at 2:30 pm, we make an announcement over our phone PA system that alerts our Nichers to stand up, leave their desks and, if they choose, do something physical. Most of the time that means fighting over who gets to use the foosball or ping pong tables first. Others might opt for a quick walk outside, or do a brief stair climbing session to get their blood pumping. Screenfree time is brief, lasting only 15 to 20 minutes, at which point another announcement reminds everyone to return to work. If someone is on a client call when screen-free time begins, then they can obviously delay their break.

We’ve also implemented a Friday Happy Hour from 4:30 to 5:30. We spend no more than $100 a week on snacks and either beer, wine or a cocktail-of-the-week to celebrate our productivity during the week. Most Nichers take their drinks back to their desks and tie up loose ends before heading out for the weekend.

Some head straight for the foosball table. It’s their choice, but because this tends to be an unproductive hour anyway, we figured it made more sense to

Leading by example is the only way to signal that it’s OK

relax and enjoy it together.

Now, skeptical CEOs are probably wondering how long we can sustain this kind of approach before it somehow backfires and derails productivity throughout the rest of our working hours. On the contrary, since introducing screen-free time in January, we’ve seen an increase in productivity, efficiency, collaboration and even innovation. The reason is that our Nichers are given the time to build and foster stronger interpersonal relationships. They can discuss work-related matters if they choose, but most don’t. This is their time to chill out and engage with each other, and that’s fine with me.

That’s one of the reasons why our screen-free time works. It has full buy-in from our management team. In fact, management participation is mandatory — leading by example is the only way to signal that it’s OK not to spend ever y waking workplace minute in front of a computer screen. Perhaps I insisted on this approach after hearing anecdotes of CEOs who literally fired staff that dared to use the recreational toys in their offices. Turns out that in some organizations, ping pong or pool tables are simply pieces of furniture designed to attract new hires and convey the image of workplace cultural cool, rather than being used as tools to help nurture strong employee engagement.

Let me be clear: initiatives such as screen-free time won’t work in every workplace. Some companies have clientservice mandates that make it all but impossible for everyone to step away from their desks en masse, for example. But in service businesses such as ours, where culture matters more than anything else, I truly believe it’s important for employees to be given the opportunity to take a break and communicate with each other.

I don’t pay my people to play ping pong or go for a jog, of course. But I do value the investments that we’ve made in recent years to help boost cultural cohesiveness. Screenfree time is just one more way to help us become a better company.