How Much is TOO Much Work for Your Team of Scientists?
Posted July 3rd, 2014
Getting the most out of your team of scientists isn’t about keeping them in the lab for as long as possible. It’s about finding the level of work that maximizes efficiency and productivity without leading to exhaustion. Striking the right balance can be a challenge, especially if your team is just as motivated as you are to complete a project, but it’s crucial that you find it if you want the end result to be of the highest quality. If you begin to see these signs in your team, it’s a good indicator that they are working too much.
Reduced Output
If your team seems to be working harder than ever but producing less and less, it’s a good sign that they are working too much. One of the reasons that overworking is so counterproductive is that as output falls, teams often try and work harder to make up for lost gains and end up running themselves into the ground even faster.
Employee Turnover
If you are having a difficult time keeping scientists on your team it could be because the demands placed on them are unrealistic. Everyone, including ambitious scientists, is looking for a reasonable work/life balance. If they can’t find that on your team, they will look for opportunities elsewhere.
Accidents and Mistakes
If you are finding mistakes in the data, or dealing with accidents in the laboratory more frequently, it is probably because your team is exhausted and rushing to complete projects. This not only compromises the aims of the entire project, it could lead to a serious workplace injury.
Apathy
If you’ve found normally hardworking team members slacking off, taking extended lunches, or wasting time on the internet, it indicates that they have lost their passion for the project. This could be caused by a lot of factors, but being overworked is a major one. No matter how dedicated a team member is, it’s easy to lose your drive if you feel beaten down by the demands of your job.
Infighting
If your team has suddenly become uncooperative, uncommunicative, and disorganized, it’s a clear sign that they are working too much. Being burnt out produces an emotional strain that can turn friends into enemies and efficient teams into angry mobs.
The good news is that you can give your team a break without sacrificing the goals of the overall project. You don’t necessarily have to cut back hours or stretch out your timelines. Sometimes just giving your team a chance to blow off some steam and recharge their batteries is enough to get them motivated, focused, and productive once again. If you need help putting together a team and keeping them on course, rely on the resources of Bayside Solutions.
