Slow working: how about slowing down?

Four-day week, single-task mission, airlock or even the elimination of unnecessary meetings. As its name suggests, “slow working” consists of slowing down at work, in order to boost one’s productivity.

For a better life balance

And the idea seems to be bearing fruit, according to this recent survey carried out by the University of Gothenburg, Sweden, among 1,000 employees who were offered to go part-time. Despite the reduction in salary that this choice implies, the fact of reducing one’s working hours provided more well-being for the employees who took part in the experiment.

While some mention stress linked to financial worries, the majority of those questioned mention a better work/personal life balance. According to the study, going part-time would in particular reduce the number of sick days.

Beneficial for managers too

For managers, going part-time has also proven beneficial. They assume that “what is good for the employee is good for the general organization“.

Surprising fact: the study shows that the reduction of working time can encourage the adoption of more eco-responsible habits. For example, buying second-hand products or opting for the sharing of goods and services, such as carpooling.

Agree to do nothing

Implementing a change as important as slow working requires agreeing to readjust the amount of work on a daily basis. According to Diane Ballonad Rolland, certified professional coach, interviewed by our colleagues from Les Echos in 2020: “With slow working, the objective is to work intelligently and not excessively, to go slower to act better, to be more thoughtful, more strategic, while knowing how to recognize that sometimes the best thing to do is is precisely… to do nothing!”.

Easier said than done when the buzzword in the world of work is “productivity“. That’s why, according to the coach, such changes must be implemented gradually, learning to “slow work” every day more.