At first glance, when you see employees putting in extra hours or essentially burning the midnight oil, you may think that these employees are more productive and more valuable. However, productivity is not necessarily equated to how much time you put into a job.
In fact, some of your more productive employees who do more work in less time may actually put forth greater effort and still be able to head home at a decent hour. Remember that results are what you should measure productivity by rather than hours worked.
If you are concerned about productivity in your workplace, you may be able to improve the situation by reviewing and implementing these tips where applicable.
Communicate Effectively
A productive workplace is one where two-way communication is effective and clear. Management needs to communicate their expectations to employees, and employees should understand their responsibilities. This can create a productive team environment.
While some communication may be through email and text, remember that personal, face-to-face communication is also critical. All employees and managers should consider the method of communication they use for each effort so that their communications are more effective.
Employees should feel free to reach out to management with questions or concerns. More than that, they should understand the hierarchy so that they know who to turn for help or grievances along the way.
When employees are unsure about their responsibilities, lack the knowledge to complete the work and do not know who to turn to for help, they can become frustrated and my not be as effective in their positions as they could be.
Train Employees
Another important step to take when your focus is centered on bolstering productivity is to properly train your team. Your team members need to know precisely how to do the work that they are assigned to do.
An initial training session for new hires should be implemented, but even established employees need continuing education. When employees feel as though they are advancing in their position or as though they have the skills to be a valuable asset, they may be more productive and beneficial for your company.
Remember that you can develop and train employees in different ways, such as through in-house mentoring, workshops, seminars and more. Some training sessions may be focused on helping employees to complete their tasks more quickly for improved productivity.
Use the Right Technology
Technology is an essential element that enables improved efficiency in the workplace, but some employees either feel uncomfortable using it, or do not have access to the right tools. Remember that you need more than computers with an Internet connection to maximize the benefits associated with using technology in today’s business environment.
Research different solutions and applications available for your specific workers’ tasks. Some programs, such as Asana and Trello, may be effective project management tools in many work environments. Others, such as Buffer and Hootsuite, may be more effective for those who actively work with the corporate social media accounts.
Some solutions are free or very affordable to use, making them accessible to both smaller and larger businesses. Many of them can be used on mobile devices as well. These may be beneficial for mobile or remote workers. Remember to train your employees on how to properly use the tools that you provide to them for the best results.
Enable Telecommuting
Through technological solutions and applications, you may be able to actively communicate with and monitor your remote workforce. Some managers have been timid about allowing remote work because they could not monitor employees, but this has changed due to new and affordable technology.
Remember that remote workers may be more productive as well as more satisfied with their jobs. While not all employees are well-suited for a remote work experience, others may thrive with this type of setup. Technology may enable quick file sharing, immediate communication between distant workers and more.
Recognize and Reward
When workers feel as though their extra efforts are properly noticed and appreciated, they may be inclined to work harder and smarter. You should also offer compliments and acknowledgements for a job well done or for an exceptional effort. It is appropriate to recognize extra effort publically, but criticism should be offered in private.
When suitable, you may even offer incentives. These may be small gestures, such as a gift card, or they could be very sizable bonuses or a pay raise. If you need extra work done and nobody is stepping up to the plate, you can offer an incentive to those who are willing to work more or longer.
Final Thoughts
Productivity is a hot button for many business owners and managers. However, you may struggle to identify why productivity may be lower or what you can do about it. Spend time analyzing your workforce and workplace today to determine if any of these tips may benefit your organization.
