For many, mid-August to September is a good time to reset. The hustle and bustle of summer is coming to a close. For some, school is starting back up. For everyone, the end of the year is nearing, and many are considering how to shore up business processes for the end of the year and a ramp up in the new year. Let’s take a closer look at productivity and what it ultimately means for the construction industry. First up, scheduling.

My interest in this topic was piqued earlier this summer when a report crossed my desk about workplace scheduling. The schedule is honestly the foundational element of workplace productivity, and productivity strategies can be built up from there. So, let’s start by looking at the schedule.

The Workplace Scheduling Report from Clockwise is based on data from nearly 2,000 users and 80 million meetings. Interestingly, the data here debunks many commonly held assumptions about productivity such as:

• Everyone should schedule identical meeting patterns.
• Early risers are more productive.
• Deep work should follow universal rules.

In fact, what the report uncovers six key insights about how different workers approach their work. Keep in mind, this research was done across a variety of industries but does offer some key takeaways that can apply to construction specifically. Let’s look at the insights from the report—and unpack what it could potentially mean for the construction industry.

First, personal commitments can shape work schedules—at least to some degree. Doctors’ appointments, commute times, childcare obligations. There are a number of factors that could come into play here. It is important to recognize that every worker is different, and yet coming together to work on a project is key, especially in industries like construction. This becomes a balancing act.

Second, everyone craves focused work time, but in different ways. In this particular research, Clockwise found its users aimed to schedule at least five hours of focus time per week. Although people seemed to implement this time differently. Duration preferences range from 30 minutes to several hours, with timing based on personal energy patterns and priorities throughout the day.

Third, workday preferences are as unique as individuals themselves. While the majority do prefer focused work in the morning, it does vary, and there is no universal perfect work schedule. It depends on the worker.

Fourth, fewer, better meetings lead to improved productivity. Most respondents expressed aversion to meetings at the edges of the workday (before 9-10 am and after 4-5 pm). To make meetings more effective, adopting popular strategies to limit meeting load is common. There are many ways to do this. Companies could implement meeting-free days (Wednesdays and Fridays are most popular). Individuals may also choose to meeting stack, which means to minimize context switching, and add shorter buffer times between meetings. Candidly, meetings are a universal topic for any industry—and it is something that can be explored in wider depth.

Fifth, lunch breaks are a top priority. I find this interesting to be honest, as they honestly are not a priority for me personally. The data revealed having a lunch break is the primary calendar non-negotiable, though approaches vary. Flexible lunch windows (between 11 am – 3 pm) are common, with most preferring 12-1 pm or 12:30-1:30 pm time slots. I’ll be honest. As a caregiver, I prefer to eat while I work and get my work done sooner in the day. I know how to balance my energy loads: writing in the morning and more administrative type of work in the afternoons. I can easily manage research/administrative-type tasks while I eat.

Finally, global teams require schedule flexibility. Meeting times that work for everyone can be a juggling act. In this particular research, people mention they flex their schedules around a fixed block of overlapping time, often referred to as the golden hour, to accommodate scheduling with colleagues in other time zones.

At the end of the day, productivity is very individual and personal. What works for one person might not work well for another person’s energy patterns. But a general sentiment does run across the board: the schedule is the foundational component to a productive life—and ultimately a productive jobsite.

The question remains: How will you shore up productivity in the months ahead? How do you consider each individual workers’ needs? Next week, we will take a closer look at what this means, specifically for small businesses. Stay tuned.

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