No-nonsense business tips to improve business productivity
High productivity. It’s what every business wants. Still, with thousands of information out there, it can be hard to know the best and most effective method, so how do you sift through everything and know what really is – and what isn’t worthwhile?
What strategies can you apply right now to increase workplace productivity, and which ones aren’t that effective? If you want to increase the overall productivity of your business, read on.
Happy workers work more efficiently – stressed out ones? Not so much. In a nutshell, a happy workplace influence worker to do everything better, causing a boost in productivity while a stressful work environment does the opposite, leading to low productivity.
What can you do. Work overload can lessen productivity like no other. Using old techniques like manual spreadsheets, slow printers, and outdated phone lines can drain employees. This is why modern accounting software, fast/3D printers, avaya digital phones and other technological upgrades were created to ease the burden of workers and improve productivity. Aside from the obvious need for updated technology, here are some more ways to improve business productivity:
Effective leadership can make the difference. Sometimes workplace productivity down is because of ineffective or poor management, coupled with a lack of structure organization that poorly managed businesses often suffer from.
What you can do. Skilled management can help employees work more productively. A recent study conducted by the Society for Human Resource Management found that the number one factor that impacts productivity was poor management. Case studies by New Zealand at work cited the vital importance of training management effectively and encouraging good management.
Simplified processes need to be utilized and followed
Good managers aren’t always enough; effective management needs to be combined with the application of well-structured methods.
New Zealand at Work also found out that workplaces with good organizational processes as well as management teams that help impose observance to these processes are likely to wore more efficiently. So, creating flawless processes for all tasks is a great start, but management is also accountable for making sure employees keep an eye on following these processes.
What you can do? Make an effort to meet with all managers and give them applicable management training. If you’re in a managerial role, ensure that you’ve personally done your research on how to effectively manage employees. More than that, concentrate on executing an organizational system that is applicable and effective for your business.
Whether that is making use of a content management system or tools like Basecamp, choose a process and go through with it, reassessing as needed based on staff response. With an effective management and a clear practical structure in place, you will be more likely to keep your employees happy and productive.
Take note that not all of these ideas need to be applied overnight. Actually, that might do more harm than good.
You can start by weighing the current state of matters with your employees. What do they feel is the leading obstacle in terms of productivity? You can use their opinions and the tips above to plan a productivity strategy, and apply it step by step. While you may need to work bit by bit, you’ll be on your way to a business that runs more easily, and is more productive.