Satya Nadella describes Microsoft's productivity problem: '85% employees feel overworked'
Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella has shed light on a "productivity paradox" currently impacting the company. This issue involves a significant discrepancy between managers and employees' perceptions of work effort. In a conversation with LinkedIn co-founder Reid Hoffman, Nadella revealed that 85% of managers believe their employees are not working hard enough, while an equal percentage of employees feel they are overworked.
Data-driven approach to resolve productivity paradox
Nadella emphasized the need for a data-driven approach to address this productivity paradox. He stated, "And it's real data! So we have this paradox on how you can see these things in two different ways. And the only way around it to me, Reid, is you have got to use data. Dogma is not going to help." This statement underscores Microsoft's commitment toward using empirical evidence in decision-making processes.
Advocacy for goal alignment and clarity in leadership
To tackle the productivity paradox, Nadella suggested that leaders should strive for goal alignment and clarity. He advised, "As leaders, we have to learn how to bring clarity to what is the output that you'd like to see. What are the measures of it and then using that to see whether it is working or not and then create the norms." This approach aims at bridging the perception gap between managers and employees.
Nadella highlights importance of soft skills in today's leaders
Nadella also emphasized the importance of soft skills for leaders in today's changing work environment. He believes that optimism and energy are crucial traits for effective leadership. "It's easy to be down on everything [but] my true measure of any leader is who can come into a situation, bring clarity, generate energy, and solve over-constraint problems," he said.
