A recent study titled 'Global Collaboration in the Workplace' by Zoom and Morning Consult has shed light on the productivity challenges faced by Australian leaders. The study reveals that ineffective collaboration can cost organisations over $16,000 per manager annually.

The study, which surveyed nearly 8,000 leaders and employees across 16 countries, including 750 respondents from Australia, highlights the increasing reliance on Artificial Intelligence (AI) to boost productivity. According to the findings, 74% of leaders are turning to AI to enhance their work processes.

The study also reveals that 97% of Australian business leaders spend time each day on 'bad collaboration' – fixing misunderstandings and realigning teams. Interestingly, 40% of these leaders spend over an hour a day on these unproductive tasks.

The study also found that 44% of Australian leaders feel their time is overspent on in-person meetings, while 46% and 45% feel the same about emails and virtual meetings respectively. Additionally, 43% of leaders need 10-15 minutes to refocus between tasks.

One-third of Australian team leaders spend one hour or more each day resolving collaboration challenges. Furthermore, 40% of Australian team leaders frequently spend more than one hour resolving misunderstandings or miscommunications within their teams.

When it comes to investing their time, 40% of Australian leaders would rather spend it on strategic initiatives or enhancing processes and workflows, if they had more time in their day.

The study also found a preference for in-person meetings among 41% of leaders and 49% of employees in Australia. However, 56% of leaders believe they could be more productive if they dedicated meeting time elsewhere.

The use of AI is prevalent among Australian leaders, with 63% using AI daily or several times a week, compared to just 29% of employees. A significant 68% of Australian leaders who integrate AI into their roles report their teams are more productive when using AI.

Bede Hackney, Head of ANZ Zoom, commented on the findings, stating, "AI is revolutionising productivity for Australian leaders. By seamlessly integrating AI into daily workflows, organisations can significantly reduce miscommunication, allowing leaders to reclaim precious hours lost to inefficient collaboration. This shift not only enhances productivity but also helps drive better outcomes across the board."