How productive is your workforce? Do your employees have everything they need to get the best results from their eight hours in the office each day? If you feel your employees aren’t achieving optimum productivity, the fault might not be with them. Just because they are not getting the results you’d like, it doesn’t mean they’re lazy and unmotivated. It could be because they aren’t equipped with all the tools they need to reach their full potential.
The average worker spends approximately eight hours a day working, for five days each week. This is a colossal amount of time to get things done, but only if the conditions are right. If they face constant distractions and obstacles, if they have inadequate technology, if they are subjected to poor management, then it’s only natural that their productivity will suffer.
As a business owner, it is down to you to get the most from your workforce. You need to put tools and strategies in place to ensure that your staff has everything they need to succeed and deliver excellent results. To get you started, here are ten ways to boost employee productivity.
Don’t micromanage
If you are the kind of boss that constantly looks over your employees’ shoulders to make sure they are getting their work done, you need to stop. A good employer will trust their employees to do what they need to do, without feeling they have to keep an eye on them. By micromanaging, you are creating an unpleasant atmosphere, and your workers will be more focused on keeping you happy than getting anything done.
Provide clear direction
Every single worker in your office should know exactly what they need to do and when. It’s important that you provide clear direction to your staff, not only about the tasks they need to complete but also how they should prioritize them. A Monday morning meeting is a good way to outline the goals for the week, and a five-minute daily check-in allows everyone to update you on progress and setbacks.
Keep them happy
Many scientific studies show that happiness has a direct correlation with performance in the workplace. If your team is miserable and dreads coming to work, productivity will inevitably suffer. Try to create an uplifting, positive atmosphere in the office to keep spirits high. You can do this by encouraging a sense of community with social events, communal lunches, birthday celebrations, and general chit-chat at quiet moments. Brighten up the office with plenty of light and greenery to make it less dull and dreary.
Reduce stress
The office can be a tremendous source of stress for many workers, especially when they constantly face tight deadlines, high pressure, and excessive workloads. Look after your team’s mental health by helping them to manage their workloads and encouraging regular breaks. A stress-free worker will be a productive one.
Look after their health
You might be surprised to learn that office work is one of the most physically taxing professions. All that time sitting at a desk with poor posture, staring at screens without a break can cause severe damage to the body. Over time, this sedentary lifestyle can lead to neck and back problems, weight gain, and impaired vision, which will inevitably cause the quality of their work to deteriorate too. Encourage your staff to take regular breaks to stand up and stretch. You could even invest in some health-boosting equipment such as standing desks and ergonomic office chairs. It might also be a good idea to encourage your staff to get blue-light blocking glasses to protect their eyes. These can be obtained easily from websites such as https://www.eyeglasses.com.
Allow flexible working
Everybody works differently, and for some, the traditional nine-to-five office structure is a restriction to optimum performance. People have other commitments, such as children, hobbies, health concerns, and passion projects. When they are restricted by the working day, their minds will be elsewhere, and they will constantly be thinking about rushing off to pick the kids up from school or using their much-needed lunch break to visit the doctor. You can improve everyone’s life enormously by incorporating a flexible working structure into your office. Allow your employees to request to work from home occasionally if needed, or adjust their working hours to accommodate other commitments. This will take a lot of stress away from them, and they are just as likely to get their work done in their own time.
Provide regular training
Throughout life, we are always learning, and there is no shame in being re-trained in something you know well. Providing retraining in business tools, management, or teamwork is a great way to refresh people’s knowledge and offer new perspectives and tips on their usual ways of doing things.
Equip them with the right tools
Nothing hinders productivity like a slow computer or weak internet connection. Don’t skimp on technology to save a bit of money. Ensure your staff has everything they need to work well and deliver results.
Offer incentives
There’s nothing wrong with a little bit of friendly competition, and incentives for good work are a great way to increase motivation throughout the workplace. These incentives can be anything you like, but it could take the form of a gift card for the best-performing salesperson, or a bonus for someone who has gone above and beyond the call of duty this month.
Listen
As an employer, the most important thing you can do for your staff is listen to them. Ask your team what you can do to help them with their work and make their lives easier. You’ll be surprised by how many people have suggestions and opinions about this, and you just need to show them that you are willing to listen to them. This will give you a new perspective on the dynamics in your workplace and show you new ways of increasing productivity that you may not have considered.
There are so many ways to increase productivity in the workplace, and by following these ten tips, you are guaranteed to see better results in no time.
