Use the 'Hawthorne Effect' to Increase Your Productivity

There’s a fine line between being micromanaged and overly surveilled and being monitored enough that you get good work done. That line is actually called the Hawthorne Effect, and it’s a phenomenon in which people are more productive when they feel they’re being observed. If you’ve ever noticed you push yourself a little more when you’re working out in a full gym or group fitness class than when you’re working out alone, you already get the concept, but it can be applied to all kinds of scenarios to make you more productive—even if you’re not actually being observed. 

What is the Hawthorne Effect?

This phenomenon is said to have been discovered during some research conducted at the Hawthorne Western Electric Plant, though there’s some debate on whether that’s true. What isn’t up for debate is the behavior trend itself: When someone is participating in an experiment, they may tend to work a little harder than normal, knowing they’re being watched. Even outside of experiments, an awareness of being observed or monitored can spur a little productivity boost. 

Researchers and social scientists have spent decades trying to figure out if the Hawthorne Effect, as described in early research, is real or not, but it’s still a concept that has been described and studied for a long time—and to which you may relate. Not everyone performs better under the watchful eye of someone else, but if you’ve ever found that you do better work when you have regular check-ins with a boss, stay more focused when you know your time is being monitored, or spring into action when colleagues are looking for a leader, you could benefit from tapping into the Hawthorne Effect. 

Productivity tools to consider:

• The Rocketbook Everyday Planner ($38) allows you to scan your physical notebook pages into your devices, then erase them in real life so you can use the same notebook over and over again. In fact, any Rocketbook product can do this, and all of them are great for staying organized.

• A weekly planner notepad ($9.95 for 52 sheets) is great for setting weekly goals and keeping them within eyesight.

• A mini goal-planning notebook ($13.99) can go everywhere with you, so you have no excuse not to check in with it.

How you can use the Hawthorne Effect

You can’t really make yourself be observed, right? You can’t ask your boss to monitor you all the time, for instance; but there are a few ways you can create the feeling of being watched or checked in on and harness it to be more productive. If you want to try to incorporate some of the Hawthorne Effect into your own life, try these ideas:

• Request regular check-ins with your manager, even if they’re just weekly, 10-minute chats. Adding structured, scheduled conversations to your week will enhance the feeling that they’ll be expecting to hear about your recent work and results. 

• Find an accountability partner. This could be a coworker, classmate, roommate, or anyone who is working on something similar to what you’re doing. Check in with them regularly, again on a set schedule, and always be prepared to update them on your progress.

• Use apps that can give you a feeling of being tracked, at least when it comes to your goals. Here’s a list of apps that can serve the purpose, whether you’re looking for a virtual accountability buddy or even one that acts as a demanding “boss,” sending you messages demanding proof of your progress. 

• Work somewhere with other people around you, like a coffee shop or communal workspace, if you aren’t in the office. This actually works great for me, as I find it embarrassing to zone out or scroll social media if I’m working from a coffee shop. Logically, I realize no one there actually cares what I’m doing, but illogically, I still want to appear productive in front of strangers.