What is Smart Work? What is the path of least resistance
“The Principle of Least Resistance: In a business setting, without clear feedback on the impact of various behaviours to the bottom line, we will tend toward behaviours that are easiest in the moment.”
The Principle of Least Resistance is a concept that I came across while reading the book “Deep Work, by Cal Newport”. It’s a treasure house of knowledge. Any person who is interested in enhancing their productivity must read it at least once. The simple meaning of the principle of least resistance is that most of us are biased toward choosing the easiest solution available to us, instead of choosing the apt solution. Maybe we are lazy and don’t want to think deeply or communicate with others on better strategies and better modes of implementation of ideas.
Let’s make a small comparison to drive the point home. We all are avid users of technology and smartphones. We all want smartphones with the largest RAM, fastest processor and top-notch camera. It is going to cost more than a mediocre phone with lower specifications. Better performance, speed and efficiency come with a cost. It’s true while purchasing an electronic gadget. It’s more true for humans when applied in a business setting-better performance, speed and efficiency come with a cost. This cost may be the time and effort spent in acquiring knowledge through reading books, brainstorming for a better solution, implementing the solution ..etc.
The idea of smart work can and must be used throughout the process of solution-finding and implementation. There is a clear distinction between smart work and the principle of least resistance. The principle of least resistance is all about selecting the easiest solution. But smart work is focused on achieving a better output with minimum effort. The topic of smart work deserves an article of its own. Nevertheless, I am ending this article with a valid quote about smart work and one that has the essence of this article.
“I don’t believe in luck or hard work without the so-called “work smart”. It’s not all about how you work hard but it’s about how you manage your time, resources, mind to work together for a better output.”― Jayson Zabate