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Using Environmental Priming to Boost Productivity

In 1996, John Bargh, Professor of Psychology and Cognitive Science at Yale University, did an experiment to see if he could influence behavior with a simple activity.  He and his team divided the participants in the study into three groups.  The first group were placed in the “Rude Condition”.  They had to unscramble a list of rude words like bold, aggressive, disturb.  The second group was placed in the “Polite Condition” and were given a series of polite words to unscramble such as patient, respect and respectful.  And the last group were in the “Neutral Condition”.  They were given words to unscramble that were neither polite nor rude.  When a participant in any of the three groups was done unscrambling the assigned words, they were instructed to walk down the hallway and tell the researcher they were finished. 

Unbeknownst to them, the researcher would be in a long fake discussion with another researcher when the participant arrived. The experiment was to test how long it would take for each person to interrupt the researcher to tell him that they were done.  Within 10 minutes, 60% of the rude group had interrupted the researcher, while only 40% of the neutral group barged into the conversation and only 20% of the polite group interceded.  Just by reading words that suggested being polite increased polite behavior, whereas reading words about being rude prompted rude conduct.  This simplistic experiment demonstrated that people could be subconsciously primed to act differently.

So exactly what is priming?  Priming is a psychological strategy that involves using a stimulus like a word, image, surrounding or action to affect someone’s behavior.  In the case of environmental priming, one’s environment is used to influence that person’s thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. It is a powerful mental tool that can be used to modify behavior.  At work, it can be used to improve focus or boost productivity.  Savvy managers can use environmental priming to help direct reports be more efficient and effective at work. 

Primed to Perform

There are many different ways to prime an environment.  For remote workers, priming the environment involves modifying a space in their home to be connected closely to – and, if possible, dedicated exclusively to — work.  According to James Clear, author of Atomic Habits, “The more disciplined your environment is, the less disciplined you need to be.” Clear explains that the physical environment has a direct impact on focus and productivity.  And as we think about how to prime employees for success, it’s critical that the work space around them supports that goal.

Here are a few ways an employer might work with a remote employee to make a home environment more primed for productivity. 

1. Discuss a workspace with the employee prior to beginning the fully-remote or hybrid arrangement.  The employee should be asked where they will be working and whether that space will be conducive for work. If possible, the employee should denote a specific space in the home or office where they will work. This will help create a mental association between that space and the job.  That will make it easier to focus when there. 
2. Have the employee enhance the workspace with things that inspires him/her. This could include photos of nature, quotes from a favorite author, or artwork that is motivating.  If possible, the workspace should be in a separate room from where other chores and tasks are done.  For example, working at the kitchen table might not be inspiring if the breakfast dishes are in the sink and there are bags of groceries to be put away in the pantry.  Those visuals will distract rather than inspire focus and concentration.
3. Have the employee work in a space that has natural light. Natural light has been shown to improve mood and cognitive function. If possible, an employee should work near a window.  Natural light boosts energy and has been found to reduce depression.
4. Suggest calming background music or sounds.  Calming music helps reduce stress and improve focus. It also helps combat some of the isolation and loneliness that sometimes accompanies working remotely.
5. Recommend a workspace that can be maintained consistently organized and tidy.  A cluttered workspace can be distracting and make it difficult to focus.  Employees should be encouraged to choose a work area that can be kept clean and organized.  Working in a bedroom that has baskets of unfolded laundry and an unmade bed does not encourage productivity.  Also, working in a noisy Starbucks – with people continually coming and going – is not optimal for focus and concentration.  An employee with a big or complicated task to complete will likely be more productive in a quiet space where there are fewer interruptions and distractions.

Priming Any Environment

Of course, environmental priming can also be used to optimize work even for employees that are not remote workers.  Environmental priming can be used to improve focus and productivity in specific situations.  For instance, to come up with creative ideas, an employee might try working in a more stimulating environment, such as a park or art gallery.  Whereas, for an employee feeling tired or sluggish, working in a well-lit space and playing upbeat music might stimulate energy. 

Of course, environmental priming is not a one-size-fits-all approach. What works for one person in one situation may not work for another.  Managers should experiment with different environmental cues to see what works best for each employee at a particular time.

Priming an Environment to Achieve a Goal

Environmental Priming is not just useful to boost focus and productivity on an ongoing basis.   It can be used as a tool to achieve a particular goal or complete a project.  Many professionals use environmental priming to get a particular project completed.  For example, writers will often go on a writer’s retreat to finish a manuscript.  Attorneys might relocate to a particular area of a Law Library to finish writing a Brief.  Teams that are brainstorming a new product will work at a remote location to be able to complete the process.  There are several reasons why environmental priming helps.

• Shifting environments cuts down on distraction – Away from the home or office computer and phone — without constant emails and messages — the sense of time changes.  Without distractions, there is more time for inspiration and reflection. 
• Unfamiliar environments shift one’s sense of time – The Greeks had a notion of time not only in the sense of chronology, but also as ‘kairos’; the opportune moment.  It is not just about time but timeliness.  By moving away from familiar surroundings, workers are more likely to achieve Kairos… have an extraordinary moment of insight.  This helps spark creativity and innovation… the right idea at the right time.  Indeed, Composer Leonard Bernstein once said, “Any great work of art revives and readapts time and space, and the measure of its success is the extent to which it makes you an inhabitant of that world — the extent to which it invites you in and lets you breathe its strange, special air.”   To do deep work, employees who change environment can dive into another mind-space where they tap into new perceptions and fresh ideas.
• New environments signal commitment – Working at a desk at home every day is fine.  But working on a train on the way to work or at a Shared Workspace signals to the world that an employee is committed to their work.  Working at a local cafe allows an employee to make a small shift that can get creativity flowing.  But taking a week of holiday to attend a retreat or to go somewhere quiet or new to work on a project raises the bar of commitment.  And taking time to travel to another country to produce a report takes the commitment to an even higher level. With increased resolve, creativity gets an enormous boost.  When employees behave like serious professionals, then that is who they are. Identity isn’t a given.  It’s who they decide to be and how they behave — investing in their work – that emphasizes this.  As Psychoanalyst Carl Jung said, “You are what you do, not what you say you’ll do.” 
• Unfamiliar environments encourage peak experiences – Being in an unfamiliar environment often shakes something free in employees.  Why is being somewhere unfamiliar so beneficial to creativity?  When employees change environments, they are able to get on a path of focus, productivity and creativity.  By getting completely out of their routine and into a new environment, they become optimized for learning, growth and connection.  Unfamiliar places shake them up and wake them up. In a primed environment detached from routine, they are better able to move out of their comfort zone in search of epiphanies and solutions.

There are many successful professionals who have used environmental priming to boost their productivity.  Bill Gates, for example, is known for his focus and productivity. He has said that he likes to work in a quiet room with no distractions. He also likes to keep his desk clean and organized.  Tim Ferriss is a productivity expert and author of the book “The 4-Hour Workweek.” He has said that he likes to work at a standing desk and takes frequent breaks to move around. He also likes to work in different environments throughout the day.

It is important to note that environmental priming is not a magic bullet. It is not going to make every employee more productive overnight. However, it is a powerful tool that can help improve employee focus and concentration if used correctly.  Why not give it a try, especially for those who are working in non-traditional workspaces. 

Quote of the Week

“Prime your environment to make the next action easy.” James Clear

© 2023, Keren Peters-Atkinson. All rights reserved.