As a business owner, you are aware that one of the most important elements of your success stems from the team that you have behind you. Without a solid team of employees behind you, you know that your chances of success are far lower, which is why it’s so important that you know what it takes to manage your team effectively.
The fact is that when your team of employees is unhappy, their productivity levels tend to dip, which means that they aren’t able to complete as much work as normal. When you’re on a tight deadline, this is extremely problematic, which is why it’s so important that you know what it takes to keep your team members’ levels of productivity as high as possible.
Of course, knowing what steps you need to take to be able to do that is extremely stressful – as there’s a lot that you need to consider when it comes to boosting productivity and ensuring that everyone remains on track.
Bearing that in mind, below are some tips and ideas to help make the process of ensuring that your team members’ levels of productivity remain high on a constant and consistent basis.
Set individual goals
One of the first steps that you should take is to set individual goals. Don’t assume that each team member has the same needs when it comes to support – it’s crucial that you treat each team member as the individual that they are.
Aim to have monthly 1-2-1’s with each of your team members, where you are able to set specific goals for each of your employees that relate to their personal needs and aspirations. If you don’t have time to hold these meetings yourself, then perhaps you could ask your team leaders – if you have any – to hold 1-2-1’s for you and deal with goal setting. However, if you’re able to, it’s best that you deal with this aspect of your business.
Create a highly productive environment
A great way to boost employee productivity is to create a working space that is designed to make completing work easier and more achievable. The fact is that when a space isn’t designed to make completing work or working in a productive manner doable, it has an impact on your team members’ mindsets and can significantly impact productivity. That’s why it’s so vital that you take the time to consider what your team requires from their workspace and how you can design an area that promotes productivity and acts as an incentive.
Consider incorporating features that boost motivation, such as standing desks, for instance. Various studies have shown that standing desks can help to increase employee productivity and offices with these kinds of desks or adjustable desks for both standing and sitting, have 60 percent higher rates of productivity. It’s important to consider what would make you want to be more productive – what features would you love your office to have? Don’t be afraid to be creative – look at Google HQ for inspiration, as that’s the most creative office in the world and probably, one of the most productive.
In need of office design inspiration and ideas? Take the time to have a browse online – you should find plenty of sites offering ideas and tips for creating a workspace that allows everyone in the team, including yourself, to work more productively.
Take feedback seriously
When it comes to how you run your business, if you want to ensure that your team is as productive as possible, you need to take feedback seriously. The fact is that getting feedback doesn’t have to be a struggle, resources like Inpulse.com, for instance, make the process of getting real feedback from your team members easier and less stressful through the use of surveys. Whether a change has been implemented, and you want to know how your employees feel about it, or you want feedback on the office space available, these kinds of tools are invaluable.
When you are provided with feedback, make sure that you take note of that feedback and utilise it to help improve things for your team. If a team member tells you that their chair is uncomfortable, for instance, or that the internet is running slow and impacting their workflow, make sure that you take the time to deal with the problem at hand. Your team will thank you for addressing any issues that they mention and will work harder as a result because they will feel more valued.
When team members feel valued by their boss, they feel compelled to work harder, knowing they are not just as another cog in the machine.
Encourage and reward employees
Don’t forget to encourage and reward your team members. When it comes to how content employees feel in the workplace, various studies have shown that there’s a significant link between employees who feel valued and productive working. If you want to boost workplace productivity, it’s essential that you show your team that you value them.
A simple ‘thank you’ goes a long way, particularly when it’s from the boss. Take the time to think about how you can encourage and reward your team members – what will it take to show them how grateful you are for all of their hard work? Whether it’s simply an email that thanks them, a bonus, or an announcement, it doesn’t matter – all that matters is that you take rewarding your employees seriously.
When it comes to boosting workplace productivity, there’s a lot that you need to consider. It’s not a simple or straightforward task; it’s one that comes with the need for a number of differing approaches. After all, each team member is different, and what drives them will also be different, so taking a number of routes to boost team productivity is crucial.