By Zack Devin
Right now, improving employee productivity in the workplace is challenging because it has undergone drastic changes over the past few years. For most workers, getting used to those changes can be challenging,
In almost every field, an average employee is productive for only 58% or even less every day. To boost productivity in a workplace, you will need to put a system in place, which drives motivation among your employees and give them morale to give their all in whatever they do.
Simply telling your employees to be productive may not work in the modern office. You must be proactive in all your thoughts and implement the following ways that experts at BoardRoom have suggested:
1.Improve Employee Boarding
To positively and effectively integrate new employees into your company’s culture, you must have effective onboarding programs.
Because of ineffective onboarding programs, some employers often lose 19% of new appointments within three months. However, effective onboarding programs increase employee retention by more than 51%. Major components of operational onboarding programs consist of the following:
- Extensive training
- Complete support
- Feedback
2. Consider Schemes for Employee Share Options
Productivity is what all business owners want, and a great way to boost employee productivity is to strengthen their commitment to your company. When implemented and designed well, the employee share options scheme should be a win-win for existing suppliers, customers, employees, and business owners.
There are many reasons why scheme for employee share options can lead to more productivity in a workplace. First, it betters business and employee alignment. Better alignment between employers and employees focuses on the common goals and reduction in the tension between ‘us & them.’
Second, it improves employee efficiency. Workers who are more involved and engaged in business are more efficient and productive. Academic research shows that productivity improvements of between 10% and 20% are very common in every employee-owned business.
3. Improve Organizational Alignment and Transparency
Among the greatest reasons for low workplace performance is the need for more organizational alignment and transparency between and among teams. If your team doesn’t know the vision, mission, and core values of your company, they won’t be able to collaborate to achieve common goals.
Still, most companies, especially enterprises, have room for improvement. Research by IBM shows that 70% of workers don’t completely understand the strategies of the companies they work for, and 60% of workers wish they had more insights into their company’s next steps.
So, the best thing to do is to invest more resources in internal communication strategies. Implement internal newsletters or podcasts to communicate the current state of your company and help workers understand where the whole organization is headed. To enhance organizational alignment and transparency, consider empowering your team with effective persuasion skills. Participating in Persuasive Communication Skills training will provide your employees with the tools they need to communicate and advocate their ideas effectively, fostering a more collaborative and transparent workplace.
4. Incentivize Employees
One of the most reliable tactics that most companies use is linking benefits and rewards to the level of output. A close analysis shows that the way you administer incentive programs may either break or make this tactic’s effectiveness.
Incentives should be aligned with more extensive employee engagement programs to take effect. Those programs must help to ensure workers are listened to, respected, rewarded, and engaged.
5. Offer Technology
Employees without effective tools and technology for the job are often frustrated and not productive. A Gallup poll shows that less than 50% of Singaporean workers believe that their companies provide the technology required to perform their roles effectively.
With the rise of mobile devices and Cloud computing that gives access to data and eliminates capital costs, many companies can afford advanced equipment and technologies. Providing your employees with the technology they need to perform better is the first step in improving productivity in a workplace.
6. Reduce Distractions
It isn’t easy to concentrate on a high-priority task and complete it on time in a workplace with a lot of distractions. Some studies show that distractions are the greatest productivity killer. Before, major forms of distractions used to be telephone calls or knocking on the door. Today, the same tools you use in the office are the sources of distractions.
Advice your workers to eliminate and minimize those distractions before they even start to work. Encourage them to put their smartphones away, switch off the TV, and turn off the computer notifications.
7. Communicate Effectively
By communicating effectively, you eradicate misunderstandings and misconceptions and, at the same time, clearly define all your needs. When you communicate, you will also understand your workers. You observe them and know whether or not they are motivated.
Similarly, employees will be relaxed to know that when they face any problem, they can easily clarify it by simply asking questions. This, in turn, helps you to overcome barriers while your team will focus on their major responsibilities instead of spending a lot of time understanding the work assigned to them.
8. Match Tasks According to Skills
Knowing your team’s behavioral styles and skills is crucial for improving efficiency and boosting productivity. For instance, out-of-the-box, creative, and extroverted thinkers may come up with innovative ideas but struggle with unstimulating and mundane work.
So, before you assign an employee work, evaluate whether they are a perfect fit. If not, look for someone else with work styles and skills that align with the task’s requirements. More so, this is important if the task needs customer service. A perfect employee for the job must have the right skills to deliver to the client’s satisfaction.
9.Provide Training
You should provide a lot of opportunities for training to establish a productive and happy workforce. Training helps to improve the work performance and knowledge of employees.
Ensure your team receives the knowledge and information they need in a format that is suited for them. You may provide effective training techniques for your team, like:
- Role-playing
- Group activities and discussion
- Hands-on training
- Lectures
- Mentoring or coaching
- eLearning
- Simulation employee training
- Instructor-led training
The Takeaway
To improve employee performance and productivity in the modern workplace, you must be in tune with employees’ preferences and establish a culture of openness and trust. You will need to let core values and strategic, realistic, and clearly established goals guide you. Plus, you will have to adopt an employee share options scheme and provide training to keep your team motivated and sharp.
