Our Nudge is an Outlook add-in that provides managers with an automatic feedback report on their team’s break culture. The report combines visual representations with specific impulses for action to reflect on and improve management behaviour with regard to breaks. With a click, managers can plan a joint team break or receive suggestions on how to organise breaks in a visible and exemplary manner. The nudge focuses on regular, gentle stimuli to change behaviour – embedded in the existing working day and without additional effort for the user.
Many companies lack a consciously practised culture of taking breaks. Employees forgo rest – despite having the opportunity – due to deadline and performance pressure, a lack of planning and inadequate role modelling by managers. Breaks are often interpreted as a loss of time or a sign of a lack of commitment, even though they have been proven to promote relaxation, health and performance. The Outlook add-in is designed to specifically address this problem.
The Nudge is intended to motivate managers to reflect on their own break behaviour and consciously act as a role model. The aim is to establish breaks in the team as a visible, accepted and regular part of everyday working life – with positive effects on health, recovery and performance.
The visible benefit of continuous performance is overestimated, while the recovery effect of breaks - as less tangible - is underestimated. In addition, break behaviour often does not match the common image of the high-performing ‘top employee’.
Organising breaks is not perceived as a management task.
If managers do not take breaks, there is an unspoken norm in the team that breaks are associated with a lower willingness to perform.
Managers in office-based work contexts are primarily addressed – especially where formal break times are not utilised even though they could be. This is where there is the greatest potential to change norm dynamics through targeted role model behaviour.
In the familiar Outlook working environment – no additional tools required.
Weekly feedback increases awareness of your own leadership impact.
Managers are supported in actively helping to shape recovery.
Reduction of stress, increase in job satisfaction, long-term increase in productivity and lower employee turnover.
Luca.schall@stud.hshl.de
Cassandra.paskert@stud.hshl.de
Antonia.kompa@stud.hshl.de
anina.matuszak@stud.hshl.de
