1. REDUCING STRUCTURE FOR IMPROVED
PERFORMANCE
Modern tech businesses are notorious for their relaxed work environment, yet it is often
the case that their employees produce highly creative and innovative material. This can
be explained by considering what employees view as valuable contributions in their role.
Because their time is not as structured, their work is less of the “busy” variety. They do
not feel pressure to burn the clock, but rather to work smarter in order to increase their
value at the company. The businesses themselves are responsible for creating this
environment, and need to make intelligent decisions to ensure that employees use their
freedom productively.
So what does this reduced structure look like? Some businesses have made major
strides by setting up communal work areas for marketing teams. By allowing both a
personal work space and an open, collaborative environment, employees can reap the
benefit of colleague input and brainstorming. The freedom of mobility and collaboration
within an office setting facilitates “out of the box” thinking while still operating within a
traditional office environment. Other businesses allow employees to work outside the

2. office for some of the day. Of course, it is important to manage expectations and include
the caveat that employees must be productive while working remotely. This is a license
for creativity, not laziness.
It is important to determine who exactly will benefit from these incentives, and who they
can feasibly be given to. It makes the most sense to give these incentives to employees
who do not operate on a rigidly structured schedule. For instance, it wouldn’t make
sense for technical support agents because they are required to work around customer
schedules, necessitating that they make themselves available at any time. Similarly,
sales and some managerial roles will likely not fit the bill. By correlating time-based
productivity data with the type of work performed, you can determine who in your
organization will gain value from reduced structure.
If you are able to offer increased freedom for creative employees, you can increase job
satisfaction and incentives for future hires. You will also create an environment for
original and valuable contributions. It can be a win-win situation that benefits companies
in any industry.
Reference Link: http://bit.ly/SA4YPU