Scientists Discover Shocking Tool to Improve Engineer Performance!

Leaders always want the people on their teams to be more productive, more efficient, and perform better at their jobs.

In software, we're constantly trying to improve performance, with all sorts of metrics used to eke just a little more speed out of a team. Here's a few examples for the record in no particular order: agile, scrum, lean development, DevOps, Six Sigma, waterfall, extreme programming, kanban, CI/CD, lean Six Sigma, crystal, feature driven development, rapid application development, capability maturity model, lean startup, design thinking, ITIL, DevSecOps, Lean UX, Six Thinking Hats. (Links explaining these methodologies below.)

Seems lots of people, teams, companies have tried...but have they succeeded?

From the companies I've worked at, the answer seems to be a firm "no".  Companies are focusing on how "hard" people are working. That might be useful when doing a time/motion study on an assembly line, but it doesn't apply when doing creative work like software engineering.

I'd like to propose something radical...but before we talk about that, it's useful to know what an engineer needs to feel "engaged".  

By engaged I mean an engineer who is committed to the work.  They are passionate about the job and care about the success of the projects. More than half of the motivation must come from a desire to learn, grow and contribute to the engineering effort.  They take on new challenges, think creatively, and problem solve in innovative ways.  In short: that's the kind of engineer I want on my team!

To keep that going, an engaged engineer requires care and feeding: Meaningful work, professional development, positive environments, autonomy, work-life balance, recognition, and a diverse work place.  I won't go into those in this article, but they are all key.

Here's the radical bit though: they aren't enough.

An engineer needs to have a bit of breathing room...a bit of time to day-dream.  A bit of time, to...well...be bored.

Yes, that "are we there yet?" kind of boredom.  

I can hear the over-pressured organisations screaming now: "What!?!  We can't have expensive highly-paid engineers GOOFING OFF!?!"

Well, my shouty imaginary organisation...that's *exactly* what I'm proposing.  

Why?  Simple, really.

Boredom (as a tool used by engaged engineers):
1. can spark creativity
2. reduces stress
3. promotes self-discovery
4. encourages movement
5. helps with learning and memory
6. improves sleep
7. enhances mood
8. improves focus

I'm really smart...just take my word for it!  

(Not convinced?  Fair enough...I probably wouldn't be either.  If you want to learn more I mention the "why" for each of these below, and provide references for the studies to back each point up.)

Note that "engaged" part.  This is advanced engineering here.  If your organisation screams "FASTER!" at the teams on a regular basis, you'd probably get more bang for your buck by improving your company culture in the first place.  The engineers have to want to be productive.

Long->short: Make sure you've got the engineers engaged and then let them start to daydream.  Just a little.

Imagine what they'll be coming up with next!

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A bit of a deeper dive...

Again, I hear the more bellicose companies out there girding for war at the very thought.  Let's talk about each one of these in a little detail, and I'll provide references to studies where people smarter than I figured out each of these items.

Boredom can spark creativity: Research has shown that boredom can lead to creative thinking and problem-solving. A study(S1) published in the Academy of Management Discoveries found that employees who had more boredom in their jobs were more creative and generated more original ideas than those who had less boredom. Encouraging your engineers to take breaks and pursue hobbies or side projects can promote creative thinking and lead to new innovative ideas for your company.

Boredom reduces stress: Chronic stress can have a negative impact on employee well-being and productivity. A study(S2) published in the Journal of Occupational Health Psychology found that brief periods of boredom during the workday can help reduce job-related stress and fatigue. Allowing your engineers to take breaks and participate in activities that help them relax and de-stress can lead to improved job satisfaction, higher productivity, and overall better health.

Boredom promotes self-discovery: Giving your engineers the time and space to reflect on their personal and career goals can have a positive impact on job satisfaction and retention. A study(S3) published in the Journal of Vocational Behavior found that self-reflection can help employees better understand their values and goals, leading to higher job satisfaction and improved performance. Encouraging your engineers to take breaks and explore new interests and hobbies can lead to a more motivated and engaged workforce.

Boredom encourages movement and self-care: A sedentary work environment can have a negative impact on employee health and productivity. A study(S4) published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine found that taking short breaks during the workday to engage in physical activity can lead to improved mood, reduced fatigue, and increased productivity. Encouraging your engineers to take breaks and engage in physical activity can lead to improved overall health and better productivity.

Boredom helps with learning and memory: Research has shown that boredom can lead to improved cognitive function and memory retention. A study(S5) published in Consciousness and Cognition found that participants who engaged in a boring activity for a short period of time performed better on a subsequent creative task than those who did not engage in the boring activity. Allowing your engineers to take breaks and engage in non-work-related activities that challenge their cognitive abilities can improve memory retention and lead to more efficient and effective problem-solving.

Boredom can improve sleep: Adequate sleep is essential for employee health and productivity. Research has shown that boredom can help promote relaxation and better sleep quality. A study(S6) published in BMC Public Health found that engaging in activities that promote relaxation, such as reading or listening to music, can lead to improved sleep quality. Encouraging your engineers to take breaks and engage in relaxing activities can lead to better sleep quality and improved productivity.

Boredom enhances mood: Positive mood is essential for employee motivation and productivity. Research has shown that boredom can help promote positive mood and reduce negative affect. A study(S7) published in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology found that engaging in non-demanding activities can lead to improved mood and reduced negative affect. Encouraging your engineers to take breaks and engage in activities that promote positive mood can lead to a more motivated and engaged workforce.

Boredom improves focus: Multitasking and distractions can have a negative impact on employee productivity. Research has shown that boredom can help improve focus and concentration. A study(S8) published in Psychological Science found that exposure to natural environments, which can promote feelings of boredom, can lead to improved focus and cognitive function. Encouraging your engineers to take breaks and engage in activities that promote relaxation and focus, such as meditation or spending time in nature, can lead to better focus and higher-quality work.

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Methodology links (hover to see link first):
Agile Methodology 
Scrum 
Lean Development 
DevOps 
Six Sigma
Waterfall Methodology
Extreme Programming (XP)
Kanban
Continuous Integration/Continuous Delivery (CI/CD)
Lean Six Sigma
Crystal Methodology
Feature Driven Development (FDD)
Rapid Application Development (RAD)
Capability Maturity Model Integration (CMMI)
Lean Startup
Design Thinking
ITIL
DevSecOps
Lean UX
Six Thinking Hats

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S1 - "Bored at Work? Try These 3 Things" by Anne Fisher, Fortune, March 15, 2017 - This article discusses a study published in the Academy of Management Discoveries that found that employees who had more boredom in their jobs were more creative and generated more original ideas than those who had less boredom.

S2 - Trougakos, J. P., Hideg, I., Cheng, B. H., & Beal, D. J. (2014). Lunch breaks unpacked: The role of autonomy as a moderator of recovery during lunch. Journal of Occupational Health Psychology, 19(2), 91-103. - This study found that brief periods of boredom during the workday can help reduce job-related stress and fatigue.

S3 - Kooij, D., Jansen, P. G., Dikkers, J. S., & De Lange, A. H. (2014). The influence of age on the associations between self-reflection and work-related outcomes. Journal of Vocational Behavior, 84(2), 235-246. - This study found that self-reflection can help employees better understand their values and goals, leading to higher job satisfaction and improved performance.

S4 - Alkhajah, T. A., Reeves, M. M., Eakin, E. G., Winkler, E. A., & Owen, N. (2012). Sit-stand workstations: A pilot intervention to reduce office sitting time. American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 43(3), 298-303. - This study found that taking short breaks during the workday to engage in physical activity can lead to improved mood, reduced fatigue, and increased productivity.

S5 - Baird, B., Smallwood, J., & Schooler, J. W. (2011). Back to the future: Autobiographical planning and the functionality of mind-wandering. Consciousness and Cognition, 20(4), 1604-1611. - This study found that engaging in a boring activity for a short period of time can improve cognitive function and lead to more efficient and effective problem-solving.

S6 - Kang, J., & Chen, M. H. (2009). Effects of an irregular bedtime schedule on sleep quality, daytime sleepiness, and fatigue among university students in Taiwan. BMC Public Health, 9(1), 248. - This study found that engaging in activities that promote relaxation, such as reading or listening to music, can lead to improved sleep quality.

S7 - Weinstein, N., & Ryan, R. M. (2010). When helping helps: Autonomous motivation for prosocial behavior and its influence on well-being for the helper and recipient. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 98(2), 222-244. - This study found that engaging in non-demanding activities can lead to improved mood and reduced negative affect.

S8 - Berman, M. G., Jonides, J., & Kaplan, S. (2008). The cognitive benefits of interacting with nature. Psychological Science, 19(12), 1207-1212. - This study found that exposure to natural environments can lead to improved focus and cognitive function.