One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned in business?
Long hours don’t guarantee great results.
During a period of fast growth and change, I realised that productivity isn’t about staying late. It’s about creating value that moves the business forward.
Here’s what stood out:
1. Results matter more than time spent.
It took me a while to stop assuming late hours meant high dedication. The real question is, what did those hours actually deliver? A focused 6-hour effort often outperforms 10 hours of distracted busyness.
2. Tired teams don’t perform.
Burnout doesn’t help anyone. I came across a study showing productivity drops sharply once people go past the 40-hour mark. The longer we push, the less effective we become.
3. Flexibility fuels better work.
When we shifted focus to outcomes instead of hours, something changed. People worked when they were sharpest. No clock-watching. Just better results.
4. Celebrate what gets done, not how long it took.
We started recognising smart solutions, not just long days. That boosted motivation and encouraged more of the thinking we actually needed.
What if we stopped measuring time and focused only on the value created? – Ali Aydan
Ali Aydan: Why Hours Worked Isn’t the Same as Getting Work Done
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