Going for the “Flow” to Maximize Productivity

By Mike DuBose with Blake DuBose

 

Over the years, I’ve noticed that when a topic truly interests me, I can become fully immersed in writing articles about it. I feel as if all of my energies and passions have come alive, and I tackle the piece with deep enthusiasm and intense focus. Full of endorphins, I hit a mental and emotional high where all my senses are activated toward creating something meaningful. Some of my best ideas, plans, and thoughts are born from this mysterious place.

As my work on the article progresses, I start to feel like a painter developing a beautiful picture or a storyteller passionately sharing my feelings and experiences with others. It is exciting and fun to imagine a concept, gather up the pieces, and assemble them into quality work that others can understand and use.

Everything around me fades into the background as I focus intently on my creation. Sometimes, I begin writing in the morning and look up after what feels like only short time to see that hours have passed. It is in this mental state that I experience some of my most thrilling feelings and achievements, especially as my editors and I move from draft to draft to perfect the finished product. When the article is published, my team and I feel like we’ve created a beautiful piece of art.

The emotional high that I describe isn’t unique to me. It’s experienced by plenty of others, from meditating monks to weightlifters pushing their bodies to the limit. In positive psychology, it’s called “flow,” but it goes by many other names, like “creative zen” or being “in the zone,” “on a roll,” or “in the groove.” Steven Kotler (author of The Rise of Superman: Decoding the Science of Ultimate Human Performance), describes it as a state where “every action, every decision, leads effortlessly, fluidly, seamlessly to the next. It’s high-speed problem solving; it’s being swept away by the river of ultimate performance.”

University of Chicago psychology department chair Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi has extensively studied flow and has authored several books on the subject. According to research Csikszentmihalyi published with Jeanne Nakamura, flow is a state of completely focused motivation where emotions are aligned with and channeled into performing an act, and “thoughts, feelings, wishes, and action are in harmony.”Nakamura and Csikszentmihalyi identified several components that combine to create the flow experience: intense concentration on the present moment; merging of action and awareness; loss of reflective self-consciousness; a sense of personal control over the activity at hand; distortion of temporal experience (losing track of time); and rewarding feelings as a result of the experience. Stacey Nemour eloquently summarized Csikszentmihalyi’s theories in a 2014 Huffington Post article when she wrote, “When we focus our attention on a consciously chosen goal, our psychic energy literally ‘flows’ in the direction of that goal, resulting in a reordering and harmonizing within consciousness.”

This flow state is difficult to reach, though, and staying in it is even harder. Like many others, I experience numerous distractions throughout the day. People often interrupt my train of thought to ask me questions, and my smartphone is constantly buzzing with new e-mails or texts. However, I have realized over time that entering the zone requires certain elements, including separating myself from such distractions. I have learned to tell people “I’m in the zone” and that I will address their concerns at a later time. It can be difficult at first to separate yourself from the day-to-day workings of a business, particularly when (like me) you are the owner, but the payoff—that burst of inspiration when you hit your creative stride—is well worth the effort.

The Benefits of Flow

Csikszentmihalyi wrote that “the best moments usually occur when a person’s body or mind is stretched to its limits in a voluntary effort to accomplish something difficult and worthwhile.” Indeed, the famous sculptor, painter, architect, poet, and engineer Michelangelo would often be so deeply focused while painting the Sistine Chapel that he went days without food or water. Driven by artistic inspiration and creativity, he’d work until he collapsed. The result? One of the most famous and celebrated works of Renaissance art in the world.

Because people operate at their full capacity when they’re in flow, their productivity and performance levels drastically increase when they’re working that state. Although this is true regardless of what kind of activity the person is participating in (leisure or work), it’s particularly valuable to businesses. As Kathy Britton asserts in an article in Positive Psychology News Daily, flow “isn’t just valuable to individuals; it also contributes to organizational goals. For example, frequent experiences of flow at work lead to higher productivity, innovation, and employee development.” Compounding the positive effect, because working in flow is rewarding, people will try to replicate the experience, which creates “a selective mechanism into psychological functioning that fosters growth,” according to Massimi and Delle Fave.

Csikszentmihalyi also found in his studies that creating a workplace atmosphere conducive to flow can improve morale because employees feel happy and accomplished. When morale is high and employees are happy, they tend to provide better customer service. Thus, getting staff into the flow is not only good for them as people, but also good for business.

How Can Flow Be Reached?

Csikszentmihalyi’s research indicates that people with “autotelic” personalities, who tend to exhibit curiosity, persistence, and low self-centeredness, are more likely than others to reach a flow state. In our experience, people who are creative, artistic, and/or high performers seem to have a better chance of entering that zone; however, it is possible for everyone. Researchers Asakawa, Delle Fave, and Massimi all found similar reports of the flow experience across gender, class, cultural, and age groups. Throughout our four companies, people from different backgrounds and with varying degrees of education have told me that they sometimes feel mental and emotional rushes consistent with the definition of flow.

Although “the capacity to experience flow appears to be nearly universal,” according to Nakamura and Csikszentmihalyi, “people vary widely in the frequency of reported flow.” Personally, I reach the zone many times each month. I get an emotional high through working on a variety of projects, including writing personal, travel, health, or business articles; developing a plan for an event that I enjoy; preparing a Bible lesson; or planning an exciting trip. Most of the time, it revolves around my purpose and that of our family of companies: “To create opportunities to improve lives.” The importance of the project seems to be a key to reaching flow—the mind needs to be fully engaged and crackling with inspiration. While they can be relaxing, most research indicates that passive (but pleasurable) activities such as reading a book, enjoying a warm bath, taking a walk, watching television, or surfing the web generally can’t get you there.

Another common thread seems to be concentration. Maia Konnikova, psychologist and author of Mastermind: How to Think Like Sherlock Holmes, writes in a 2012 New York Times article, “Though the concept originates in ancient Buddhist, Hindu, and Chinese traditions, when it comes to experimental psychology, mindfulness is less about spirituality and more about concentration: the ability to quiet your mind, focus your attention on the present, and dismiss any distractions that come your way.” Because the brain can only process so much data at any given time, multitasking scatters your attention and makes it harder to focus. (One can easily recognize this when trying to carry on a telephone conversation while typing an e-mail, for example.) However, when you hone in on a single project, all channels are dedicated to completing it, and thoughts come clearer and faster.

Owen Schaffer, who studied under and conducted research with Csikszentmihalyi, reported in 2013 that there are seven conditions that lead to flow:

1-    Knowing what to do

2-    Knowing how to do it

3-    Knowing how well you are doing

4-    Knowing where to go

5-    High perceived challenges

6-    High perceived skills

7-    Freedom from distractions

This echoes other research by Csikszentmihalyi stating that employees and managers need three things to foster a flow atmosphere in the workplace: (1) clear goals; (2) immediate feedback; and (3) a balance between opportunity and capacity (skills and challenges). Kotler recommends introducing novelty and excitement into the workplace, too, noting that Steve Jobs designed an atrium in the center of Apple’s offices so that people from all departments interacted and had conversations. As a result, they gained different viewpoints and were inspired by fresh ideas.

 

Additional Tips for Getting in the Zone

Everyone’s path to the zone is different, and what works for one person may hopelessly distract another. However, some common themes were prevalent throughout the research and our in-person interviews. Here are some suggestions for reaching a state of flow and staying there:

1-    Work during your “peak hours.” You have the best chance of achieving flow during times of day that you are most mentally alert. For me, this is the morning, but others prefer the afternoon or even late night.

2-    Get a good night’s sleep. You should be well-rested but alert. Some people we spoke to like to drink coffee for a little caffeine boost, while others report that it prevents them from concentrating.

3-    Be patient. Know that it may take some time to get deep in the zone. It takes me about an hour to become completely immersed in what I’m doing when I’m working in flow.

4-    Follow your passions. When you are concentrating on a worthwhile topic that you find enjoyable and interesting, your potential for reaching the zone increases dramatically.

5-    Push yourself. Take on activities and challenges that remove you from your comfort zone. The thrill of flow only comes about when you’re stretching yourself to the limits of your capabilities.

6-    Put other work aside. Schedule meetings and important telephone calls on different days than those when you want to work in flow. You will reach flow quicker if you are not experiencing excessive stress, problems, and other deadlines outside of the primary activity. While it may be difficult, you want to keep other commitments out of your head for a while.

7-    Take about ten minutes before beginning your project to clear your mind. Some people find it helpful to meditate or do yoga; I like to read my morning newspapers, drink some coffee, and relax before I approach the zone.

8-    Create a comfortable work environment. This often means a good chair, the right room temperature, and an organized, quiet area. Personally, I like to write using a very large computer monitor, and some people like soothing background music or dim lights. Putting art and other unique scenery around your work space can also boost creativity.

9-    Set reasonable timelines to complete your work. If you feel pressured by an unrealistic deadline, you’re unlikely to reach the zone.

10-Conduct any research necessary in advance and organize your materials. For my writings, I maintain a library of interesting articles from four daily newspapers, magazines, research journals, and reputable websites separated into folders by topic. I read all of my research multiple times, first highlighting important information, then rereading the documents and placing an asterisk beside sections that could support my points in an article.

11-Visualize your project’s outcome. Some people like to make outlines, while some staff members that I interviewed prefer a visual project model. When I’m preparing to write an article, I see myself as leading the reader down a path. I like to explain why the topic is important; how I know this information; the pros, cons, and dangers related to the topic; how the information will help him or her; and finally, realistic suggestions to consider.

12-Eliminate distractions. Turn off connections to the outside world such as landline telephones, cell phones, instant messaging, and e-mails. If working in an office, close your door and place a “Please do not disturb” note on it. When you are interrupted, it pulls you out of flow, and then when you return to your project it takes time to get back in the zone (some research suggests as much as 15 minutes each time). As musician and visionary Marc Rattray stated, “I find that when I hit a certain stride of stream of consciousness that I dare not stop for fear of never being able to recover what’s lost. When an unavoidable interruption happens, I know that I have lost some thoughts and ideas that I will never recover. It reminds me of waking in the morning and trying to grab the dream I just had, only for it to slide through my fingers never to be thought about again.”

13-Take small breaks to recharge. As long as you don’t switch focus to major issues or problems, you should be able to get back to the flow quickly after you return.

14-Stay with the project until it’s complete. A lingering project can create stress, which will keep you out of the zone.

15-If you’re a leader, provide ongoing positive feedback. Rewarding employees for good work inspires them to challenge themselves, which generates high-quality results. They also need to understand your organizational mission and purpose, and how they and their work fit into it. This give them clear goals to aim for.

 

The bottom line: There is no one clear path to the zone; rather, it varies by individual. It takes work and focus to reach; however, you’ll find that you can generate some of your best work there since your brain is supercharged! It’s a thrilling feeling for those of us who have visited that magical place!

 

 

Thank you to Kelly Beasley (Columbia Conference Center), Christy Derrick (The Evaluation Group), Kim Inman (Columbia Conference Center), Julie Neeley (Research Associates), Ginny Byrd Porter (Research Associates), and Marc Rattray (St. Andrews Presbyterian Church) for their contributions to this article.

 

About the Authors: Our corporate and personal purpose is to “create opportunities to improve lives” by sharing our knowledge, experience, success, research, and mistakes.

 

Mike DuBose, a USC graduate, is a former licensed counselor,has been in business since 1981, and authored The Art of Building a Great Business. He is the owner of four debt-free corporations, including Columbia Conference Center, Research Associates, and The Evaluation Group. Visit his nonprofit website www.mikedubose.com for a free copy of his book and additional business, travel, and personal articles.

 

Blake DuBose graduated from Newberry College’s Schools of Business and Psychology and is president of DuBose Web Group. View our published articles at www.duboseweb.com.

 

Debra DuBose has been married to Mike for 42 years and co-writes articles with him. She holds college and graduate degrees from Winthrop University and Francis Marion University. She is a former elementary and middle school teacher.

 

Katie Beck serves as Director of Communications for the DuBose family of companies. She graduated from the USC School of Journalism and Honors College.

 

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