7 Tested and Trusted Ways to Improve Workplace Productivity
by Mashum Mollah Business Development Published on: 15 September 2020 Last Updated on: 18 October 2024
Every business understands the place of productivity in business growth. Productive employees will help your business meet its growth projections, as well as properly utilize the available resources. Businesses that focus on workplace productivity usually have employees that are happy and healthy, both factors that define the success of any business.
So how can you improve productivity in your place of business? This article covers some of the tested and trusted strategies business owners can use to improve workplace productivity.
7 Tested and Trusted Ways to Improve Workplace Productivity:
1. Identify what is killing productivity
Before you think of deploying any productivity-boosting technique, it is wise to first identify what could be killing the productivity spirit among your employees. The first step is having a sit-down with your workers to talk about any problems they may be facing at work. You should also consider meeting key staff one-on-one and running an anonymous survey for honest feedback.
Once you can identify what is causing poor productivity, you will be in a better position to implement a strategy. Open discussions will help create an environment of transparency in your place of business.
2. Set clear goals
Your workers will be motivated to do more if they know and understand exactly what is expected of them. This means that you have to state your business goals clearly so they can understand. Consider defining long-term goals, short-term goals, and even daily goals where possible. Goals like these will be effective in encouraging workers to properly apply their time and manage their speed to meet targets.
It is not enough to set clear goals though. You also should create a platform for providing feedback. Feedback will let your workers know they are being supervised. It will also help acknowledge accomplishments and address mistakes or failures. Feedback is one of the key management practices every business manager must learn.
3. Reduce distractions as much as possible
Every workplace has distractions. From idle chats at the water cooler to time spent on social media. While it may not be possible to effect a no-phone policy, make it part of your policy that non-work-related phone activity can only happen during breaks. You can also limit idle chat by making sure your workers are engaged and focused.
If your workplace is located close to a busy road, factory, school, or other noisy environments, you should find a way to reduce external noise as much as possible. For example, investing in double or triple glazing on windows and doors will do a lot for noise reduction. If you are not sure how to go about this, look for glazing experts in your area or visit https://windowfactory.co.nz to discuss your needs with a professional.
4. Provide your employees with tools that enhance productivity
Arming your workers with productivity and business communication tools is another way to boost productivity in your business. Technology has made it easier for humans to get a lot done faster and more efficiently. And it is important business owners and managers take advantage of tech to enhance their business processes.
There are tons of tools for communication, work calendar, task management, to-do lists, database management, time tracking, and even customer engagement. Invest in these tools and you will see a difference in how your people work.
Don’t be tempted to go for the cheapest on the market. You want tools that come with robust features if your workers are to enjoy the complete benefits. In the end, you will realize that the benefits are worth more than the cost.
5. Provide incentives
One of the best ways to improve the efficiency of your employees is to give them reasons to work better. Recognizing and appreciating a job well done is one of the biggest boosters of morale in the workplace. When you show your workers that you see and appreciate their efforts, it will encourage them to increase their output.
However, when deciding how to reward hard-working employees, consider their individual preferences, and reward them accordingly. For example, one person may prefer a quiet “thank you” in private, another may prefer an “employee of the month” plaque in the hallway, while another will appreciate a little something on top of his or her monthly salary.
6. Improve workplace conditions
Your employees can be really really productive if they are working under the right conditions. For starters, make sure there is sufficient natural light in the work area as well as proper ventilation. People who work in an office with adequate natural light tend to sleep better at night so that they are well refreshed and ready for work the next day.
You can also improve workplace ambiance with artworks and natural elements. For example, plants have been known to improve productivity. The color green makes the office comfortable and makes employees more productive.
Finally, be sure to provide ergonomic furniture so that your workers can do their jobs comfortably. This will also reduce sick leaves and workplace accidents.
7. Create comfortable work schedules
It may not always be a good idea sticking to the traditional 9 to 5 work system. This is because these days, people tend to have different productivity peak times.
To get the best from your workers, look at creating a flexible work system, rather than working 8 straight hours in the day. For example, you can divide the workday into smaller time periods with engaging breaks (gym, games) in between. When they come back after each break, they will be back at their peak and ready for the next work period.
Another thing to consider is remote work. Commuting to and from work every day can take a toll on your workers. So, take a look at their positions and see which of them can work from home, at least two days a week. 65 percent of employees say they work better when they work from outside the office, and more than 40 percent of employees with the company provided this option. At least, try this for a few months and see if you notice any improvement in your overall output.
Final thoughts
Improving productivity in your place of business is not always easy to achieve, but it can be done with proper planning and implementation. Hopefully, the 7 ideas covered in this article will give you a good place to start from as you work towards improving your business this last quarter of 2020. Good luck.
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