We at trivago have set ourselves a clear goal: to be the fastest learning and executing company in our space. We are laser-focused on creating great value to both travelers and our partners. With a growing travel market and countless opportunities ahead of us, we know that our success depends on creating the right environment for our talents to excel. This is why we’ve introduced “Flow” to trivago – our secret to approaching work and learning.
What is flow?
Simply put, it’s the optimal state in which we feel and perform at our best. Thirty years of neuroscience research has found that flow state is responsible for all the skills we most need in the twenty-first century workplace, increasing productivity by 500%, creativity by 600%, and skill acquisition by 230%. Think about those moments when you’re so engrossed in your work that everything else fades away – time passes quickly, distractions disappear, and your performance increases. That’s flow. Rather than being forced, it’s a natural reward that emerges when the right conditions align.
Why we struggle to focus
Before we can even think about flow, we must acknowledge the reality of struggle– not just as a phase in the flow cycle, but as a constant in modern work life. In today’s fast-moving world, distractions are everywhere, from the noise of open offices to global uncertainties, AI disruption, social media overload, and the 24/7 stream of news. Many professionals, especially younger ones, report difficulty concentrating and staying mentally present. It’s no longer just about managing time but also attention. The ability to deeply focus has become a rare and valuable skill, and without carving out space to protect it, flow remains out of reach. At trivago, we recognize that supporting focus isn’t a luxury – it’s a necessity.
The Flow Journey: A Four-Step Process
Flow does not work like a light being switched on. In other words, there are certain phases that need to be encountered before achieving a flow state.
It all begins with the ‘struggle phase’ – that challenging moment when we’re first confronted with a problem and our brains are working overtime to process it. We might notice our stress and cortisol levels rising. A typical hurdle at this point is self-doubt, lack of motivation, or procrastination. But those who push through are just a step away from the real flow experience.
In the process of engaging further with the task, there’s a point when the subconscious mind starts to take over, and initial pressure reduces. This shift of energy is called the ‘release phase’ leading right into ‘flow’.
To maintain healthy energy levels and avoid burnout, it is crucial for us to be able to stop. That’s where the ‘recovery phase’ comes in, allowing us to take a conscious break – resting, recharging, and integrating what was learned before picking up new challenges.
How we support flow at trivago
During a recent company presentation, our CEO Johannes Thomas emphasized how critical flow states are to our business success. He shared several practical ways we’re creating the right conditions for flow in our company.
Company-wide “Flow Time” – avoid meetings before 11:00
An internal survey revealed that two of the biggest flow killers are distractions from colleagues and frequent meetings. Even a short 30-minute meeting can disrupt deep focus and derail productivity. Since most people experience peak energy and concentration levels in the morning – driven by their circadian rhythms – we now encourage teams to reconsider both the timing and frequency of meetings, especially early in the day. As a result, many teams have shifted important meetings to after 11:00 AM or into the afternoon, reserving mornings for uninterrupted focus work. Exceptions apply for deep work sessions or workshops that themselves require high concentration. Additionally, we’ve increased awareness around using social areas for informal exchanges and minimizing disruptions during our shared flow time.
Optimizing our working environment
Our survey showed that collaboration and distraction lie very close together. While open workspaces are great for collaboration, they can become noisy and hinder concentration. That’s why we have made noise-cancelling headphones available for use upon request and created dedicated focus areas for deep work.
Instant messengers like Slack allow us to collaborate and move quickly, but at the same time, they can create noise in our heads and leave a feeling of unfinished tasks, pulling us out of focus. Our IT tools team shared Slack tweaks to manage availability expectations using the status feature, muting notifications, or checking messages only at certain times of the day to reduce context switching.
We also encourage our talents to take ownership of their productivity while working. This means setting meaningful goals, creating dedicated flow times (we recommend at least two 90-minute blocks per day), and making the most of our hybrid working model to optimize focus time both at home and on campus.
Promoting flow-focused learning and development
Flow is emphasized in our internal communication and educational initiatives. We regularly share scientific insights on flow to deepen our collective understanding of the concept. Our talents proactively share their hacks for reducing distractions, like using tools to automate repetitive tasks or turning off notifications to enable flow.
Our Talent Development team offers workshops and launched a structured 7-week “Flow Lab” program to help our talents master the art of entering flow states more easily. Talents are encouraged to understand their natural energy patterns – specifically, when they experience peak energy level – and to utilize these periods for focused work.
We’re seeing our team members successfully transition from knowledge to practical application, as we collectively fine-tune our approach to unlocking learning supercycles.
Unlock your flow and ride the waves of productivity
As we continue our journey to become the fastest learning and executing company in our space, Flow has become an important part of how we work at trivago. From our company-wide Flow Time to the Flow Lab program, we’re building a culture where deep focus and rapid learning can thrive.
The advantages of flow extend far beyond company productivity. There’s nothing quite like the satisfaction of completing a challenging task; it boosts one’s mood and accelerates learning. The more flow states you experience, the faster you grow, leading to increased well-being and personal development.
Now that we’ve demystified flow and how to unlock it, it’s time for each of us to ride these waves of productivity. Remember, mastering flow takes time – stay with the challenge until it becomes easier, and watch as novel solutions emerge naturally. With our collective commitment and the right environment, we’re already seeing our talents unlock new levels of productivity and innovation – and so can you. May the “flow” be in your favor.