The 85% Rule
"Give it your all." "Put in 110%." "Go hard." "Maximum Effort = Maximum Results." "No pain, no gain."
Are you used to hearing these phrases? Do you even say them to yourself?
In today's post-pandemic, burnout world - humans are working on what they want out of life (hint: it's not working 24/7). At the same time, some workplaces are continuing to squeeze every last bit of productivity out of everyone while figuring out the new "work norms". Consider the example of the workplace that set a policy for Fridays off in the summer BUT would hold a "quick virtual meeting" on Friday mornings to make sure things were on track.
What if instead, you were told: "Dial it back a bit." "Don't push for 100% perfect." "Try hard, but not that hard..." "Shoot for 85%."?
Yes, you read that last one right, 85%.
In recent articles, this idea of the 85% rule has been shared as one of the ways to reduce burnout and actually increase productivity. And there is research in working with Olympic gold medalists that back this up. The gist of it all is that operating at 100% productivity all the time = "burnout and less optimal results."
The HBR Article "To Build a Top Performing Team, Ask for 85% Effort" gives these suggestions for how to adopt the 85% rule:
Create a "done for the day" time - here are some times on how to leave work on time.
Ask for a little less than maximum capacity - create "effortless action: ask “What does it feel like to be at 100% intensity?” and then follow up with: “How can you keep this closer to the 85% level?”
Ask "How am I making your work more stressful than it needs to be?"
Encourage 85%-right decisions - in other words don't push or wait for 100% perfect decisions. Keep moving forward with 85%-right ones.
Watch out for high-pressure language - you know the language - ASAP, NEED, URGENT... A great question to ask: “What do you need to say no to in order to say yes to this?”
End meetings 10 minutes early - check out the research on Your Brain in Meetings
Set your own intensity level to 85% - as the research shows, employees look to their bosses for cues far more than many managers realize. What are you modeling?
And for those of you who don't have teams - whether you run a business or not - these same suggestions apply to you and how you are working. Here’s a few more tips from a new article from Fast Company.
Wishing you an 85% month ahead!
PS - for more on creating a great culture in today's complicated, sometimes contradictory workplace - check out The Future of Work is Human - a definite must read!
