Employees are the greatest asset of any business, and their productivity determines the success or failure of your company. When things are going well, you probably don’t think much about productivity, choosing to let your team do their job and keep churning out work. However, when workplace productivity starts to slack, it becomes evident very quickly. As things start to slow down, blockages occur and without warning, everything might come to a screeching halt. Intervention needs to occur before you run into a snag with productivity, and these tips will teach you how to increase or improve productivity among your team members.
Start With the Right Tools
The right tool is crucial to getting the job done in the most efficient way possible, and for any business, technology can be leveraged to improve efficiency. The right software makes a difference by streamlining workflow and making one’s tasks easier. The Ooma desktop app integration lets employees save time by listening to voicemails are they are able, or they can choose to read a transcript of the voicemail. Time and productivity tracking apps like Hubstaff all staff efforts and inputs to be tracked and evaluated for weaknesses. Many of the software programs that you would use in the office have apps that extend to mobile devices and remote connectivity options. This lets you stay on top of what everyone in the company is doing, even those who are working remotely.
Simplify Teamwork
Many companies are moving towards a more team-centric operation, and there are a number of programs and apps that help simplify the teamwork approach. Rather than having to send emails back and forth or spend hours in a team meeting, virtual meetings, instant messaging, and other online collaborations tools allow for real-time exchanges of information and ideas. Communication is a crucial part of teamwork, and though emails are still a preferred method of communication, constantly reading and following email threads is considered a significant timewaster for employees. Not that the time isn’t being spent working, but it is not an efficient use of time. Online file sharing makes it easier to relay updated information, and anyone working on the team has access to the right materials.
Spend Extra Attention on Recruiting
The quality of your corporate culture is only going to be a strong as the people you have hired. While your company values are about dedication and commitment, it is the people who work for you that will demonstrate these values in the workforce. If you want to see productivity increase, start with a solid recruiting plan. Don’t just accept a stack of applications because they meet an experience or education level. Start by evaluating how well an applicant may fit with the core values of the company. You can spend a lot of time and money on the onboarding process, but if the employee doesn’t have a natural bent toward the company culture, you will never really engage the employee in a way that will benefit the business. When an employee feels a sense of belonging, in part because they share the same values, there is a more natural motivation and engagement with their job.
Strengthen Skills With Training
After you have carefully screened and hired the right individual for a position, the onboarding and training processes are crucial for promoting productivity. New employees are often nervous or anxious, which can get in the way of them doing their best in the first few days or weeks on the job. One way to help them move past the nerves is through thorough training. During the onboarding process, many companies try to cram in everything about the company culture or specific skills needed to do a specific job. However, your training would be more effective if you spent some time dealing with soft-skills that improve time management and productivity. Whether you cover common shortcut keys for their computer use, how to prioritize incoming emails, or how to respond to challenging consumer requests, it is possible to train your employees to be more productive. Don’t let them figure out how to do their job according to what is comfortable, as it is too easy for them to fall into bad habits that can lower productivity for the team. Set the expectations and teach them how to reach those goals. Employees who feel confident in their training and ability to do their job often display more engagement and produce more output.
Stop Micromanaging
The things that you may think are keeping your people on track may be the very things that are squelching their productivity. Though it may sound contrary to popular managerial opinions, you actually get more work out of your team members when you back and allow autonomy to take place. If you have trained them well in the art of being productive, you should have no trouble letting go of the reins. Give your employees the freedom to manage their time and resources without the constant fear of being watched or challenged in their decision-making. You will get more from individuals who are self-starters than those who are consistently controlled or prodded along. Sometimes, less is more when it comes to management.
If you have evaluated how your company or your leadership style measures up in these areas, you may find that there is room for improvement in encouraging workplace productivity. Though the employees do bear the burden of working hard, they aren’t the only ones who shoulder the responsibility for a lack of output. The company culture and management team need to create an environment where productivity is encouraged and celebrated.
