Why working long hours is costing you money.

“I can’t, I’m busy” — that is a phrase that every one of us has heard before and most of us have even used it. It seems like at some point being busy and being successful became one and the same thing. It might even give you a sense of accomplishment having to decline an invitation because you’re packed with work and the company just needs you to be there for them.

First and foremost — you are not alone! Many of us have even experienced working in an environment where long hours are not an option but a must if you want to progress and earn the respect of your colleagues and managers. If so many (well known and respected!) companies have managed to grow into successful empires by supporting such a work culture why should we change it now? Well, let me answer this question with another question: why would you invest time researching the best technology used to build fax machines if you’re specialised in creating smartphones?

Just because something has not worked but functioned for decades doesn’t mean that this is going to be the case in the future.

While we can’t predict the future, we certainly know that companies with an engaged, happy workforce are up to 21% more profitable and up to 300% more innovative. I don’t know about you, but I find those stats quite fascinating and I definitely wouldn’t want to miss out on 21% more profit and the outlook of being able to spend more time with my loved ones. So how do we get there?

By creating work environments in which employees, managers and leaders can thrive. By not just seeing a workforce but by seeing the people who are behind it. There’s not one person on this earth that was born to just work. The individuals that are working for you have friends, families, kids and hobbies, just as you do too. If you respect them and create a work environment in which they can bring their whole selves to work, they will respect you in return and be more productive than they could have ever been in a 50+ hours week.

We know that change is not going to happen overnight but all it takes to get the ball rolling is one person to make a difference.