Latest news with #OwlLabs
Forbes
4 days ago
- Forbes
Why 58% of Workers Use Time Blocking Daily
Calendar app on tablet computer time blocking or timeboxing As more workers look for ways to bring balance between productivity and wellbeing in their day-to-day lives, timeboxing or blocking off time in their calendar helps protect their focus time. According to the 2024 Owl Labs State of Hybrid Work report, 58% of hybrid workers use time blocking to be in control of their day and protect it from imposed meetings. In a workplace filled with constant notifications, blurred work-life boundaries, and shifting priorities, the ability to intentionally structure your time has become essential, not just for getting more done, but for protecting your well-being. Employees at all levels are finding that they are constantly checking their emails, responding to Slack messages, or switching tasks, leaving aside complex tasks that may be even more desirable, engaging, and satisfying, but require intense focus time. Owl Labs reports show that millennials, in particular, are blocking their calendars notably more than any other generation: 57% of millennials block their calendar, compared to 14% of Gen Z, 22% of Gen X, and 7% of baby boomers. On the other hand, 64% of full-time office workers timebox, compared to 28% of hybrid workers and 8% of full-time remote workers. It makes sense to me, as I started timeboxing when I was working in-office. Open spaces are great for collaboration for some people, but they are terrible for focus and deep work for others. It's nearly impossible to have uninterrupted time for yourself or to do what really matters to you. To enjoy your work and maintain productivity, quality, and well-being, you need to prioritize your 'me' time. Your calendar is your primary tool to navigate this demanding environment. Time blocking is the practice of dividing your day into chunks of focused time dedicated to specific tasks, allowing you to plan your day proactively. For example: It's like scheduling a meeting with yourself to do what you think is essential first. To me, it's like having a live to-do list. I like to use timeboxes of 45 minutes to allow for some buffer time and a quick break. By blocking time for specific tasks, you can: Many people try time blocking once and give up because they make it too rigid. The key is flexibility with structure. Here are four tips to get started: In my book Timebox, I highlight that time blocking isn't about achieving more but focusing on what truly matters, all while emphasizing clarity and self-care. The objective is to find a balance between productivity and wellbeing, not making sure you are using every single second available to work. Effective time management encompasses more than just tips and tools; it requires cultivating harmony between your external responsibilities and internal feelings. By prioritizing balance and being mindful of your self-talk, you can change time management from a battle against the clock into a collaborative effort with yourself. If you find yourself falling behind on a task, instead of thinking, 'I'm so disorganized,' try saying, 'I did my best with the time I had. Where can I improve next time?' and remind yourself of the progress you've made. When overwhelmed, consider asking, 'What's one thing I can do today, letting go of the rest?'.Self compassion involves not letting you off the hook, but rather intentionally scheduling the task for later. Remember, time management is not about doing everything you planned every day, but about doing what is more important for you so that at the end of the day, you feel satisfied. If you're feeling overwhelmed, exhausted, or trapped in a cycle of reaction, it could be the right moment to explore how you can incorporate time blocking like 58% of your colleagues are already doing.
Forbes
11-06-2025
- Business
- Forbes
Navigating Hybrid Work: 6 Trends For Career Success You Should Know
Online video conference webinar meeting in the modern office hybrid career success trends How we work keeps evolving. The newly released 2024 State of Hybrid Work report by Owl Labs confirms the traditional 9-to-5 office is not making a full comeback. Even as companies issue return-to-office mandates and job listings specify in-person requirements, employees continue to seek flexibility. Here are some of the key findings—and how you can use them to make smarter decisions in today's hybrid world: Flexibility has become a non-negotiable for most professionals. According to Owl Labs, 66% of employees say they would start looking for a new job immediately if remote work were taken away. While many employers still struggle to strike a balance between autonomy and collaboration, hybrid work continues increasing: The most popular hybrid schedule? Three days in the office. Hybrid work has also fueled the Work From Anywhere movement. In the past year, 58% of employees worked remotely from locations other than their homes or coworking spaces, though time zone differences continue to pose challenges. For best attendance and engagement, the report shows that the best time for a meeting is during the sweet spot: 9:30 AM to 3:30 PM. The report shows that 22% of workers hold at least one additional job—and among managers, that number climbs to 32% (compared to 19% of individual contributors). More professionals are diversifying their work portfolios. Despite growing concerns from managers about team productivity, 62% say their teams are more productive working hybrid or remotely. Focus, not physical presence, is the new measure of output. And calendar blocking is becoming a popular strategy: While productivity levels have remained steady (90%), employee stress is rising: Proximity bias—the tendency to favor in-office workers—still exists, though it has declined: For many, the office isn't just about location—it's about cost. It's no surprise that 22% of hybrid workers would expect a pay raise if asked to return to the office full-time to offset the increased expenses. Artificial intelligence is now deeply embedded in how we work: Hybrid work is here to stay, but it comes with new expectations: flexibility, focus, and wellbeing. Staying ahead means upskilling, introducing AI to your routine, and advocating for the work-life balance that helps you thrive.
Free Malaysia Today
06-06-2025
- Business
- Free Malaysia Today
‘Snowplough managers' could be preventing you from stepping up
'Snowplough managers' struggle to delegate tasks. (Envato Elements pic) PARIS : Imagine a manager who takes the lead on everything, anticipates problems, oversees the smallest details, and saves you the trouble of dealing with things. Put like that, it may sound great. But by taking on too much of your work and refusing to delegate, they're actually preventing you from learning, from making mistakes, from growing. This is what is known as 'snowplow management.' This expression was coined by the teams at Owl Labs, a company specialising in video-conferencing tools. Its CEO, Frank Weishaupt, describes this management style as similar to overprotective parenting. '[It] resembles snowplough parenting, where a parent removes as many challenges from their child's life as possible,' he told Fast Company. In concrete terms, these managers want to control everything. They take the important decisions, keep strategic projects to themselves, and leave the simpler tasks to their teams. They renege on assignments, cancel meetings without explanation, and keep their staff out of discussions with management. They have good intentions, of course. But by doing everything for their team, they end up holding people back instead of helping them move forward. Managerial stress and fear of failure So why might they feel this need to do everything themselves? Probably because the pressure is on, especially for managers. Juggling remote work, ever-higher targets and unclear expectations, they are among the employees most exposed to stress. According to Owl Labs' 2024 report on hybrid working, their stress level is 55% higher than that of their subordinates. Some fear for their jobs, others simply want to prove they're in control. Almost all are convinced – often in good faith – that they'll get things done faster if they take them in hand themselves. While it may feel reassuring, trying to be in total control can have negative effects. By seeking to centralise everything rather than delegate, snowplough managers curtail people's independence, stifle initiative and hamper team dynamics. Employees stagnate, ideas fizzle out, and collective energy is depleted. The problem intensifies in times of crisis or restructuring. Middle managers, often the target of redundancy plans, try to prove that they are indispensable by taking care of everything. But this strategy ultimately wears them down – and their teams. So, how should you deal with a ' snowplough manager'? The key is to engage in frank, constructive discussion. It's not a question of pointing the finger, but of making suggestions. Take the initiative to express your desire to get more involved: ask to pilot a project, share an idea, offer to help with an unfinished project. Show that you're reliable, motivated and capable of taking on responsibilities without making them a burden. And if the situation remains deadlocked despite your best efforts, it's best to explore other avenues by taking part in cross-functional projects or in-house training. This can be a simple, practical way to keep moving forward, even when things seem to be at a standstill. 'Snowplough management' often reflects a good, misguided intention: to protect, secure and avoid mistakes. But it's by leaving room for attempts, mistakes and autonomy that teams gain in strength. Progress requires the right to fail. Trust, the ability to delegate, and openness to the unexpected are the keys to enabling employees to take flight. And for managers to finally free themselves from the role of snowplough.
Fast Company
18-05-2025
- Business
- Fast Company
What is a ‘snowplow manager?' How to deal with this type of toxic boss
Does your manager hate to delegate tasks? It might sound like a good thing—after all, that means less work for you. But, just like having a micromanaging boss is no fun, having a manager who takes on much of your work can create a work environment that is both stifling and unproductive. We asked three experts about what causes some bosses to act this way and how to encourage your supervisor to step aside and allow you to do your job. What is a 'snowplow manager'? A 'snowplow manager' is a supervisor who takes on excessive work themselves rather than delegating to their team, says Frank Weishaupt, CEO of videoconferencing tech company Owl Labs. His team recently came up with the term, says Weishaupt, after noticing this trend in management, which 'resembles snowplow parenting, where a parent removes as many challenges from their child's life as possible.' Signs that your manager is snowplowing can include micromanagement, not letting you lead projects or calls, excluding you from meetings with senior leadership, and stepping in to do work they had previously assigned to you, says Jennifer Dulski, CEO and founder of software company Rising Team.
Forbes
16-05-2025
- Business
- Forbes
New Survey Says 67% Of Jobs Use AI, But Do Leaders Understand Its Limits?
In a survey of 1,000 knowledge workers, 67% of respondents said that their companies use AI, with 56% of companies encouraging AI usage. Owl Labs created the survey, and they found that Gen Z employees are more likely to report being 'heavily reliant' on AI, with 70% of the youngest generation leaning in on the tech for a multitude of tasks. That lines up with the observations of OpenAI CEO, Sam Altman, who recently shared that Gen Z workers view ChatGPT as a 'life adviser". Embracing technology is a good idea, but is Gen Z sqeezing LLMs too tightly? What do these current and future workforce leaders need to know, about what AI can (and can't) do? 'Older people,' Altman told an audience at Sequoia Capital's AI Ascent Event, 'use ChatGPT as a Google replacement. People in college use it as an operating system.' Tech Crunch reports that younger adults have fairly complex prompts memorized, which also means saved in the notes on their phone, and they rapidly and frequently pepper the program with problems and queries. Altman goes on to say that, "they [Gen Z and Gen Alpha] AI expert Amanda Caswell, a writer for Tom's Guide, says, 'Personally, I've used ChatGPT to tackle everything from project summaries to panic attacks, and have found it to be a great sounding board when facing tough choices. While it's no substitute for human guidance or a therapist, ChatGPT can be a great assistant in a pinch.' There's definitely an upside to having a second opinion on various aspects of your life and work - especially when that perspective has access to trillions of data points, the works of Freud, Jung, and James, as well as most of recorded history. But there are risks that can come with using AI, and leaning in too heavily on the platform. Experts say that it's important to be careful how much you share with AI - and how you use the tool at work. Your AI girlfriend may disagree, but how you embrace AI is where the conversation really begins. The rewards are many, but so are the risks - and using LLMs wisely is good counsel for every generation. What to Watch Out For With AI: Experts Weigh In 'AI has no world model,' according to process scientist, Sam Drauschak. Questions that require real-world context can be a challenge for ChatGPT and other AI platforms. 'When you ask it to read this picture of a clock, it's strictly pattern prediction.' Louis Rosenberg, Stanford professor and author of Our Next Reality, says that large language models really struggle with the simple task of reading a clock. While the platform has incredible advantages, sometimes the simple stuff is not so simple. Rosenberg says that sometimes AI is dyslexic. And, as someone who is dyslexic, Rosenberg's perspective gives an interesting read on why AI struggles to tell time. 'When I recall things in my mind (objects, environments, images, or text), I don't visualize them from a fixed first-person perspective. I think about them from all directions at once, more as a vague cloud of perspectives than a single, grounded orientation,' he explains - articulating the AI point of view. That's how large language models see things - and it often means that vector orientations (such as 'clockwise') are elusive to AI platforms. 'When you ask AI to interpret a tissue sample," he says, using an application from healthcare that is becoming more and more common, 'accuracy is not impacted by orientation.' But innovative problem-solving and creative thinking is. While AI can generate novel combinations for text and produce creative works in art and music, its capacity for truly original thought and breakthrough innovation remains limited. But the speed of the platform can be astonishing. So, should we treat AI like just another voice in the room, or the voice of God? 'Think about it more like an intern,' Drauschak advises. "AI doesn't do anything new. It synthesiz
