Several studies highlight that working longer and harder may not necessarily enhance CEOs' productivity, creativity, or their ability to sustain high performance over time. Below is a synthesis of relevant university research findings:
Productivity and Overwork
- CEO Work Hours and Productivity: Research by Harvard Business School found that CEOs work an average of 62.5 hours per week, with most of their time spent on face-to-face interactions and electronic communications. While longer hours may correlate with slight increases in firm productivity (e.g., a 1% increase in hours worked led to a 1.04% annual productivity gain), excessive hours can lead to diminishing returns due to challenges in managing time effectively and maintaining focus [1][3].
- Diminished Returns from Overwork: Studies on remote work environments have shown that while employees may work longer hours, their overall productivity can decline due to increased coordination demands, reduced uninterrupted work time, and burnout. For example, a study of high-skilled workers found that productivity decreased by about 20% despite longer working hours [2].
Creativity and Recovery
- Impact of Recovery on Creativity: A longitudinal study demonstrated that recovery experiences, such as vacations, significantly boost creativity and well-being. Regular breaks allow for psychophysiological unwinding, which offsets the strain caused by continuous work demands. Without adequate recovery, CEOs may experience reduced creative problem-solving abilities and decision-making effectiveness [5].
- Innovative Cultures and Work-Life Balance: Research on innovative leadership emphasizes the importance of fostering psychologically safe environments where leaders are not overburdened by excessive work hours. Such cultures encourage experimentation and collaboration, which are critical for sustained creativity but difficult to achieve under constant stress or fatigue [7][8].
Practical Implications
- Family CEOs vs. Professional CEOs: Studies comparing family-affiliated CEOs with professional CEOs revealed that family CEOs often work fewer hours but do not necessarily achieve lower productivity outcomes. This suggests that working smarter—rather than harder—can yield comparable results while preserving personal well-being [3].
- Work-Life Integration: Findings from Harvard's CEO time allocation study underline the importance of balancing professional and personal life for sustained leadership effectiveness. CEOs who manage their time well (e.g., prioritizing exercise or sleep) tend to perform better over the long term [1].
In summary, while working longer hours might provide short-term gains in output, it often undermines creativity, decision-making quality, and long-term productivity. Strategic time management, regular recovery periods, and fostering innovative cultures are more effective approaches for sustaining CEO performance.
Sources
[1] Test of time: Harvard study reveals how CEOs spend their days, on ... https://www.mgma.com/articles/test-of-time-harvard-study-reveals-how-ceos-spend-their-days-on-and-off-work
[2] Are We Really More Productive Working from Home? - Chicago Booth https://www.chicagobooth.edu/review/are-we-really-more-productive-working-home
[3] Family CEOs Spend Less Time at Work - Baker Library https://www.library.hbs.edu/working-knowledge/family-ceos-spend-less-time-at-work
[4] [PDF] Working harder, not smarter - Free http://pinguet.free.fr/sarahwelfare.pdf
[5] Well Recovered and More Creative? A Longitudinal Study on the ... https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8733151/
[6] [PDF] Work-From-Anywhere: The Productivity Effects of Geographic ... https://www.hbs.edu/ris/Publication Files/Work from Anywhere_forthcoming SMJ_ee8cc7c5-c90e-4ad9-a1f4-47309d693a5c.pdf
[7] The Hard Truth About Innovative Cultures - Harvard Business Review https://hbr.org/2019/01/the-hard-truth-about-innovative-cultures
[8] Leadership, creativity, and innovation: A critical review and practical ... https://www.researchgate.net/publication/324108772_Leadership_creativity_and_innovation_A_critical_review_and_practical_recommendations