The time you spend on internal meetings has been rising steadily. So, you won't be surprised that executives generally report spending an average of 70% of their time on internal collaboration. However, what will surprise you is data showing how much of this is actually wasted.
1.
The time you spend on internal meetings has been rising
steadily. So, you won't be surprised that executives
generally report spending an average of 70% of their time
on internal collaboration. However, what will surprise you
is data showing how much of this time is actually wasted.
In this short article we will explore the real‐world Return on
Collaboration based on data from 900 executives. We will calculate
the cost of poor collaboration in terms of time and wages, but also
in terms of energy and engagement. Finally, we will build the
business case for tackling the issue of poor collaboration within your
organization or team.
WARNING:
Poor Collaboration Could be Costing
You 1.9 Days Each Week!
What % of
internal
collaboration
actually adds
value?
3.
Most of the typical working week is now spent on internal
collaboration (i.e. 3.6 days). It accounts for all of Tuesday
afternoon, together with the full day on Wednesday, Thursday and
Friday too! That is a lot of collaboration, but how much of this is
effective or worthwhile?
How Much Collaboration Is Effective?
The data tells us that just under half of all collaboration (i.e. 47%)
adds real value, the rest does not. Apply this data to the typical work
week and the following picture (2) emerges:
‘…half of all
collaboration
adds real
value, the rest
does not’.
4.
Of the time spent collaborating 47% adds value. In other words, it
helps people to get their work done, solve important problems, or
otherwise make progress. This 'good' collaboration accounts for
1.7 days each week, or Tuesday afternoon and all of Wednesday.
But it ends at 10 am on Thursday ‐ from there on the typical week is
spent on collaboration that adds little or no value.
This brings us right back to where we started ‐ the decision at the
beginning of this article ‐ to go golfing or to another meeting.
How Much Time is Wasted on Poor Collaboration?
In most of our organizations what happens after 10 am on
Thursday is effectively wasted. That is a stark realization. The clock
image shown above (and taken from our performance analytics
solution) is a powerful way of communicating the following
statistical reality: Although 'poor' collaboration adds little or no
value it accounts for as much as 1.9 days each week. In other words,
37% of your team's time generates little or no value.