Recently Mr. Narayan Murthy was in hot water across social media for his comment on how youngsters across the country need to work 70 hours a week (at least ) in order for the country to progress. 'What can the poor Government do?' was his exact quote.
Let me play Devil's advocate here and say, I get where he is coming from. The simple flowchart of longer hours -> harder work -> bigger results -> more progress.. must seem alluring from his perspective.
But this is what he is not taking into perspective.. the neuroscience of hard work.
When a person, or specifically, when a brain is working hard, it is using valuable resources to maintain its attention on a task for a prolonger period of time.
The only reason it would do this is if there was a personal advantage - either in terms of growth / financial gain (greed or ambition, depending on perspective) or avoiding negative consequences (i.e fear).
Working harder or for longer hours makes the most sense if done in exchange for more money. Because here, the transaction is easy for the brain to calculate. The reward is immediate, and risk free. Everyone has a price, at which they will work as hard as they can. Find that price, pay it.. you won't have to complain of this.
But assuming that is not what Mr. Murthy meant, and he wanted his employees to work harder for the same pay, he would need to pull the identity trick.
The identity trick relies on the neuroscience fact that the brain will put in hard work if it thinks it benefits their identity. So it elevates their social status, makes them look good in front of their peers, or fills them with hope for their future.
Easiest example here would be to imagine a founder of a start up. This person would be easily putting in 12-16 hours a day working on their new start up, and not complaining about it. Because it is 'their' start up. All the hard work will, one day, reflect on to themselves. They hope that someday they will be proud of what they have achieved. The hard work is meaningful, because it is additive and personal.
Compare this with someone working at Infosys at an entry level job. They are made to feel like cogs in a machine, standard, routine, replaceable. If they complain or raise a grievance, the emotion they are made to feel is that they can leave if they want to, there are hundred others who will be able to replace them.
Why would their brain put in the effort to do that extra hour of work when it sees no demonstrable personal advantage? Nor does it share a sense of identity with the company.
The same person, under different circumstances, would put in 80 or 90 hours a week, as long as their Brain is convinced this is good for them. It is the job of the company, the manager, the CEO and the country to convince its employees and citizens that hard work is for their own good.
Perhaps the people at the top need to put in 70 hours a week to do this, and the country would progress.
Cheers,
Sid
PS: If you like learning more about neuroscience and you’re interested in marketing, brands and consumer psychology, I’m conducting a free Neuro marketing on Monday 30th Oct 8 pm IST.
I’ll see you all soon!
Your explanation was excellent, and it provided a fresh perspective on the importance of personal motivation in the context of hard work. Thanks for your great insights!
Love how it's been explained. Also, did you mean 30th November instead of Oct for the free Neuro marketing?