You found our guide on how to boost employee productivity.
Employee productivity refers to the output of an organization’s workforce. Productive workers know how to focus on the most essential tasks at critical junctures. Examples of ways to boost employee productivity include getting feedback, offering flexible schedules, and encouraging exercise. These tips are critical to ensure your employees produce the desired results and improve the company’s bottom line.
The tips are similar to employee motivation tips, and the advice on this list doubles as good tips for first-time managers. You can use these tips with motivational quotes and books on motivation to inspire your team and drive remote workers.
This article contains:
- how to improve productivity in an organization
- examples of employee productivity
- ways to improve efficiency and productivity at work
- how to boost employee morale and productivity
- ways to improve employee performance
Let’s get started!
List of factors affecting employee productivity
The prosperity of every company depends on the efficiency of its workforce. If you do not effectively manage your staff and get the most out of their abilities, then even the most talented experts will not be of much value to you.
The first step to take if you have seen a decline in productivity at work is to learn about the factors that might influence this metric. Some factors contributing to employee productivity may be outside of your control. However, you should assess the circumstances and find solutions for the elements within your influence. If you are wondering how to boost employee morale and productivity, then check out this list.
1. Staff Workload
Inadequate or excessive staff workload may be a cause of poor productivity. Burnout is a typical result of overwork because of the mental toll it takes on workers. However, a lack of labor may lead to boredom and exhaustion.
If your company is experiencing problems with the workload, then meet with your staff to explore potential solutions. For example, you can use document management programs like Monday.com and Trello that integrate with your company’s internal network. With the help of these programs, you can organize your to-do list and set specific deadlines for each item on the list.
Here is a list of project management tools.
2. Discordant Dynamics
Disputes and confrontations between workers are inevitable in every company. However, when that dispute escalates to the point that workers no longer function well together, that is when you should take action.
Workplace conflict decreases morale and may influence mental health, causing a detrimental effect on productivity. It would help if you tried to sort out employees’ differences and come up with a solution as soon as possible.
Check out this list of conflict-resolution ideas.
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3. Team Morale
A lack of workplace motivation and morale may have a devastating effect on the productivity of an individual worker or a whole organization. Changes in attitude, a lack of initiative, and subpar work output are classic examples of employee productivity crises in the workplace. Therefore, you should take action as soon as possible to address any of these issues that may occur in the workplace if you want to increase productivity among your staff.
List of ways to improve efficiency and productivity at work
Finding the root causes of poor productivity among your staff is the first step in devising a plan to improve the situation. Burnout is a major issue that reduces employee productivity and requires immediate attention. The following are tips on how to improve productivity in an organization.
1. Encourage Regular Exercise
It is highly beneficial to encourage your colleagues and team members to incorporate regular exercise into their routines. Physical activities like walking, stretching, or even short workouts can have a positive impact on overall well-being and productivity. When folks move their bodies and take breaks to stretch, it can help reduce feelings of stiffness and lethargy from sitting at a desk for long periods. Exercise also triggers the release of endorphins, which are natural mood lifters, contributing to a more positive and focused mindset. Encouraging small exercise breaks during the workday can lead to increased energy levels, improved concentration, and a healthier work environment.
2. Embrace Remote Work
Embracing remote work can open new possibilities for employees to achieve a healthier work-life balance. Remote work allows individuals to complete their tasks and projects from locations outside the traditional office setting. This flexibility can be especially valuable for those who have long commutes or personal responsibilities that require their attention during the day. By allowing remote work, you are acknowledging the diverse needs and preferences of your team members. This setup can also enhance employee morale and reduce stress, as individuals can structure their work environment in a way that suits them best. However, maintaining open communication and clear expectations are important to ensure that the work remains on track and the team feels connected despite physical distance.
3. Implement Task Prioritization
Implementing task prioritization is a strategic approach to managing workloads effectively. When there are multiple tasks to complete, it is helpful to assess each task’s importance and urgency. By ranking tasks based on their significance, deadlines, and potential impact on the team’s goals, employees can focus on the most critical activities first. This practice prevents individuals from feeling overwhelmed and ensures that teams address crucial responsibilities on time. Task prioritization encourages individuals to work smarter by allocating their time and energy to tasks that align with organizational objectives. Additionally, prioritization enables teams to allocate resources more efficiently and adapt to changes more effectively. This step results in improved productivity and the successful completion of projects.
4. Promote Autonomy
Promoting autonomy within the workplace means allowing employees to make decisions about their work and take ownership of their tasks. When individuals have a say in how they approach their responsibilities, they are more likely to feel motivated, engaged, and invested in their outcomes. Autonomy fosters a sense of trust between employers and employees, demonstrating that the company values their judgment and expertise. This technique encourages individuals to think creatively and find innovative solutions, as they have the confidence to explore different approaches without constant supervision. Allowing employees to choose their methods can lead to higher job satisfaction, increased initiative, and a more dynamic and adaptable work environment.
5. Recognize and Address Burnout
Recognizing and addressing burnout is crucial for maintaining a healthy and productive workforce. Burnout occurs when individuals experience chronic stress and exhaustion due to prolonged and intense work demands. This feeling can negatively impact mental and physical health as well as job satisfaction and performance. To prevent and address burnout, employers should cultivate a culture that values work-life balance and promotes open communication. Encouraging employees to take breaks, use vacation days, and seek support when needed can help reduce the risk of burnout. Additionally, providing resources for stress management, mental health support, and wellness initiatives can contribute to a more supportive and resilient work environment. By addressing burnout, employers demonstrate their commitment to employee well-being and create a foundation for sustained productivity and success.
6. Offer Gamified Challenges
Introducing gamified challenges into the work environment can add an element of fun and engagement to tasks and projects. Gamification involves applying game-like elements, such as rewards, points, or competitions, to tasks to motivate individuals to complete them. These challenges can make routine or mundane tasks more exciting and encourage employees to participate actively. By incorporating friendly competitions and rewards, individuals will perform at their best, increasing productivity and creativity. Gamified challenges can also foster a sense of camaraderie among team members as they work together toward shared goals. Moreover, the recognition of completing challenges can enhance job satisfaction and boost morale, ultimately contributing to a more motivated and enthusiastic workforce.
7. Implement a Tracking System
To ensure productivity in the workplace, consider implementing employee monitoring software to keep tabs on your staff. The tool would allow you to monitor such employee activities as the number of hours worked, time spent on specific tasks, and app usage. Having a project management system in place will give you a head start, as you can monitor your team’s progress, completed tasks, and level of collaboration. These methods can also identify time-consuming tasks and help you streamline your systems.
Here is a list of employee monitoring software.
8. Hold Routine Employee Reviews
Holding workers accountable is a simple but effective strategy to boost productivity. You can accomplish this goal with performance evaluations. Despite becoming less common, performance evaluations are still helpful in certain workplaces. If these meetings happen at regular intervals, say, once or twice a year, they provide an excellent opportunity to review each worker’s performance, identify growth areas, and develop plans for moving forward.
Furthermore, studies reveal that most millennials would benefit from receiving more feedback but do not get enough.
Here is a list of tips for giving employee feedback.
9. Avoid Micromanagement
It is a common misconception that micromanagement and job delegation are important for increasing productivity. The opposite is actually true. When a company gives its workers more autonomy over their workday decisions, it engages in employee empowerment. Although many employers are afraid to let their workers take charge of their work, empowered employees are more likely to be productive and give ideas and solutions to their team.
Here are the signs of micromanagement.
10. Offer Monetary Incentives
It should be no surprise that there is a link between monetary incentives and productivity on the job. Offering your staff pay increases, bonuses, and rewards tied to their performance will motivate them to work more for you.
You may provide specific incentives, such as a $50 gift card for any worker who can fix a software issue in an hour, and long-term incentives, such as pay increments that correspond with experience, to motivate your team to achieve the goals.
If you own a small company or have a limited budget, there are other ways to reward staff besides monetary sales incentives. However, if you are looking for ways to improve employee performance, output, and general good spirits, consider offering incentives.
Check out our list of employee incentive ideas.
11. Promote Flexible Scheduling
There has been a shift toward more flexible schedules at work, and thus, more businesses should welcome the idea. This system offers workers some leeway regarding when, where, and how they spend their time at work. Your staff will be more engaged, productive, and loyal to the company if they have the autonomy to manage projects, their time, and their capabilities in an agile workplace.
You should encourage vacation time if you want a more productive staff overall. Your team’s ability to concentrate and do excellent work may suffer during long hours without rest breaks. In addition, you could offer your employees more leeway regarding when they come in and when they leave the office. For instance, instead of insisting that employees work from 9 to 5, you might let them choose their hours.
One reason is that various individuals have different times of day when they are most productive. If you want to get the most out of your employees, you should let them work when they are at their best. Employees can engage in activities they would not be able to do during the workweek, like running errands or helping out with child care, or they can relax and enjoy the extra time off.
12. Eliminating Excess Meetings
The purpose of meetings is to provide and receive information and ideas. Meetings help maintain tabs on employee progress and provide updates. However, too much of meetings may be detrimental. A significant drop in productivity may occur when workers are required to attend daily meetings with no purpose other than to communicate a few words of information. In addition, all the hassles of preparing for meetings can affect your team’s output.
Email or the team’s communication channel is the way to go if you need to pass on quick information. You may get better results from employees if you help them concentrate.
13. Recruit Based on Character, Not Resumes
It is easy to become stuck in a rigid recruiting process that only values formal education, prior relevant work experience, and a well-rounded skill set. However, a criterion like cultural fit is just as important.
When you hire based on good cultural fit, you bring in employees whose attitudes and actions are consistent with the company. An applicant may make a more educated choice about accepting a job offer if they have a clear idea of the company’s culture. If the cultural fit is not a part of your recruiting approach, then employees are more likely to leave or be extremely unproductive, producing tension in the office.
14. Set SMART Objectives
Managers should be clear and direct when assigning work to employees. Setting SMART objectives is essential if you want to accomplish aims. SMART stands for specific, measurable, attainable, reasonable, and timely objectives per predetermined standards. You and your staff can see how they are doing and make adjustments as necessary. Ambiguity might arise from too broad or unachievable goals.
Without well-defined responsibilities and SMART objectives, your staff would be lost and unable to meet deadlines. This situation might spell trouble for the company’s bottom line. Instead of outlining processes, focus on desired results and delegate accordingly.
Here is a list of goal setting activities.
15. Use Communication Channels and Tools
An innovative culture can contribute to higher productivity and expansion. Consequently, businesses serious about encouraging complete employee productivity must adopt a digital, collaborative workplace. The incorporation of social feeds and timeline elements into a mobile app for the workplace intranet facilitates the dissemination of company news. The workplace channel allows for the collection of vital employee feedback and the subsequent implementation of changes that may increase productivity.
Check out this list of internal communication tools.
16. Get Feedback
When it comes to increasing employee productivity, getting feedback is just as important as providing it. It would be best if you facilitated an atmosphere where workers feel safe giving feedback on all aspects of the workplace, from the quality of the furniture and decor to the efficiency of the current policies.
With this kind of openness, you may head off morale issues before they arise. You will likely also find a wealth of new suggestions for concrete methods to boost productivity, such as introducing a new corporate policy, getting a new productivity analytics tool, or modifying the standard operating procedures for completing projects.
With these systems established, you will have a benchmark against which to measure the effectiveness of future improvements.
Here is a list of employee engagement survey questions.
17. Create a Shared Space for Breaks
You may equip a space in your workplace to serve as a shared break area. Although most break rooms are shared, your job is to have a space where your staff feel comfortable and encouraged to talk to one another.
When your workers are at ease chatting and socializing with one another, they will be more at ease working together, increasing productivity. You could have board games in your break room to encourage team building and use appealing decor to provide a relaxing atmosphere.
Here is a list of office break room ideas.
Conclusion
Even if many companies may be amid a productivity lull due to a lack of enthusiasm among their workforce, this state of affairs need not last indefinitely. Finding the source of low productivity at work is the first step in implementing long-term solutions. Creating the optimal productivity strategy is hard, but it is important. Human resource managers should seize the moment and improve workplace conditions, introduce new methods, and inspire teams to perform at a higher level by emphasizing productivity.
Next, check out our productivity tools, these tips for successful virtual teams, and this guide to managing remotely.
