Parkinson's Law

August 14, 2023

Happy Monday everyone! Lots going on this week in the Cleveland Product scene, so let’s get to it!

Article of the Week

We all have things that we need or want to do, but we delay working on them. Or we think the task or project will take so long to do that we are afraid to even start working on them. You are succumbing to what’s called Parkinson’s Law - the adage that work expands to fill the time allotted for its completion. The term was first coined by Cyril Northcote Parkinson in an essay he penned for “The Economist” in 1955 (read the original piece here, paywall warning may apply). Parkinson's Law is the adage that work expands to fill the time allotted for its completion. So how can we become better at working smarter, not harder? How can be better estimate the time we need to complete a task? A couple things I’ve seen work for myself and companies I’ve consulted:

  • Why - Knowing why teams are working on something is crucial. Teams want to see how their work it is important, which will help them stay engaged, motivating, and focused.

  • Responsibilities - Many times when we have tasks to do, especially ones that require collaboration, there are not clear expectations for who is responsibility for what portion. Assumptions get made and there is a lack of clarity on how things work together, which can lead to rushed work and poor quality.

  • Deadline - We humans, myself included, operate much better with a deadline. This allows us to plan out my day, week, or month. So be clear about when something is due so that teams can work backwards.

The below article from Atlassian is a nice summary of Parkinson’s Law and how it affects productivity, tech, and business in today’s world. It also gives you some practical steps to combat the conditions under which Parkinson’s Law occurs. Enjoy the read!

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About the Author

My name is Shawn Leitner. I started the Cleveland Product networking group in 2017, which helps to connect Product professionals around Cleveland, providing them with a forum to network, learn, and share stories. For my day job, I'm a Product Consultant & Coach for Pathfinder Product and help clients implement strong Product practices so they can create products that their teams love building and their customers love using. Connect with me on LinkedIn or feel free to attend one of my events either virtually or in-person. Always up for meeting for a cup of coffee also!I haVE