In 2011, Leading Productive Lives based in Dallas, Texas in partnership with Dinar Standard, a New York based Research and Advisory firm conducted an extensive survey on “Productivity during Ramadan”. The study focusing on impact of Ramadan on employee productivity was featured on CNN, BBC, Gulf News and other national and international news outlets and provides two key insights:
- There is a sizable percent – 25% of OIC based Muslim professionals who believed that their company’s productivity does unnecessarily suffer during Ramadan
- Over three quarters of the Muslim professionals in the survey would like to keep the work productivity the same. However, the reality is that they undertake added spiritual activities during Ramadan that impact their physical energy levels and focus during the working day.
While a drop in productivity is generally accepted, there are ways to maximize productivity during this Holy Month.
Concentrate your resources on critical activities
There is no getting away from the fact that work has to continue during Ramadan. With this in mind, a focus on critical activities is vital. The key to success in this respect is effective planning. It is vital for employees to be aware of the priorities with firm and realistic timelines for works and assignments that need to be completed. The famous cliché – Work Smarter and not Harder” makes perfect sense….
Use Ramadan as a Training Ground
Instead of seeing Ramadan as a Testing Ground, how about seeing it as a Training Ground for the employees to learn new skills and behaviors to master body and mind as two powerful skills to lead a successful life? These two skills are put to test during Ramadan because the body is thrown out of food/sleep cycle and is asked to adopt very quickly to survive the month. Moreover, the mind is tested with trying to focus with low energy and adopt to new behaviors during the month.
Use the month of Ramadan as an opportunity on learning how to optimize performance with challenges by:
- Helping employees manage their energy levels throughout the day to avoid exhaustion or fatigue even when they are fasting
- Giving employees productivity keys to better manage time-drainers, like emails, paperwork and unnecessary distractions
- Equipping employees with powerful productive routines that help them focus
- Nurturing employee’s balance between spirituality, health and well-being that supports their overall happiness and boosts their ability to deliver without stress or frustration
Focus on Corporate Social Responsibility
Productivity is not just about how much business targets are achieved. Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) activities had far-reaching ramifications for the community at large, your workforce, and ultimately, your company’s bottom line.
CSR is wholly in keeping with the spirit of the Holy Month. Ramadan also represents a period of increased worship, devotion and reflection for the Muslim faith. It is also a time of increased charitable giving, one of the five pillars of Islam.
So how is CSR linked to productivity? It’s simple – effective CSR activities can have an extremely positive effect on staff morale. Use the Holy Month as an opportunity to build team cohesion in support of those who are fasting. Companies should never underestimate the impact that good morale can have on productivity.
Look at the big picture
Have you planned for Ramadan and the midday work break in advance, allocating resources before and after these periods to make up for reduced level of activity? What will be your major priorities once Ramadan is over?
Use the lull as an opportunity to evaluate your company’s projects and operations. What processes could be implemented to drive efficiencies at work? This could be an excellent time for experimentation – Are there any onsite processes that could be tweaked? Are there any technologies you have meaning to trial? Are there any issues or disputes that you’ve been intending to resolve?
How about some “big picture” thinking? Reflect on how you and your colleagues collaborate, not just within your company but also with other stakeholders. Could lines of communication be strengthened? Is there room for improvement in various processes such as procurement?
Devise ways to maintain the efficiencies that have been driven during this period. If following Ramadan, your workforce returns to “business-as-usual” mindset, all your hard work will have been in vain. By ensuring that the lessons learned during Ramadan stay learned, you will be reaping the rewards offered by greater productivity long after the Holy Month is over.
Ramadan starts on different dates every year, and we will post an article early on to help you plan and prepare. We are also running a series of Lunch & Learn Sessions around Healthy Ramadan during the month of May. Please contact us for details.