Routine work unexpectedly affects human productivity

A study by Hungarian scientists has shown that routine work does not always reduce productivity. For employees with narcissistic traits, monotony can become a catalyst that raises professional standards. The survey involved 210 workers.

A study by Hungarian scientists from Corvinus University and Eötvös Loránd University has shown that routine work does not always lead to a decline in productivity. An anonymous online survey involved 210 employees of local enterprises. The scientists compared the level of professional monotony with personality traits and the drive for high achievement. Special emphasis was placed on manifestations of two forms of narcissism—grandiose and vulnerable. The initial hypothesis that routine demotivates people with narcissistic traits was not confirmed. On the contrary, the higher the level of boredom, the stronger the connection between these traits and strict performance standards. Lead author Laura Janka Marót explains that success-motivated employees use routine as a challenge. At the same time, experts emphasize that narcissistic traits are not a universal recipe for success, as they are associated with arrogance.