Think e-mail and other communication technologies make employees more productive? Think again.
Employees who frequently talk face-to-face are more productive than those who rely on e-mail, phone calls, Facebook and other electronic means, according to a recent report by researchers at MIT and New York University.
Participants in the study were equipped with devices called “sociometers,” small badges that track wearers’ movements, record their voices and detect when they’re standing near someone else wearing the device. In other words, they measured how often the employees interacted with each other in person.
The result: Employees who had face-to-face conversations throughout the day were more productive.
A similar study by the same research team was released in December, with the same results: Employees at an IT company who had regular in-person meetings were 30% more productive than those who didn’t.
The reasons are two-fold, researchers say. First, talking face-to-face helps groups solve problems faster than when they try to brainstorm other ways.
Second, face-to-face support networks increase general morale and job satisfaction, which are key to maintaining productivity.
The lesson for managers: Though technology has made it possible for employees to work together without ever seeing each other, it’s good to encourage in-person collaboration.