Counting performance, not backs of heads

It was encouraging to hear Simon Langley, UK head of Inclusion & Diversity at National Grid, talk recently about the need for performance management based on outputs, not hours and presence. “There are too many managers who think the way you manage people is to count the backs of their heads,” he told a conference. “If I can achieve what’s needed within my regular hours, then my time is my own. Why do we make people stare at a screen for seven hours? If they finish what they have to do early, they should consider going home and spending more time on their relationships.” Langley was speaking in the context of new research by Working Families and the charity OnePlusOne showing an inextricable link between engagement at work and strong family relationships. The study also found that women are more engaged than men at work, and that parents are just as engaged as non-parents – busting a few myths about working mothers being less committed to their work. The study, Happy Homes and Productive Workplaces, is well worth reading.