Image credit: Corporate Challenge
Each employee’s office productivity is of absolute importance. The output of every worker in the office counts towards the profits made at the end of the day. When one employee or two start slacking off, your whole business will be affected. Most times however, the level of office productivity is dependent on the type of work environment and the kind of management present. So as a business owner or manager, you have a direct responsibility in boosting productivity in the office. Here are 10 practical ways in which you can do it.
Create accountability
It is very easy to get a bit lazy when you do not have a specific goal that someone expects you to accomplish. By creating accountability, employees are given certain objectives that they have to work towards. They are also accountable for the failure or success of their efforts in reaching these objectives. Accountability tends to push people to be more productive.
Set realistic goals and follow up
When setting goals, be careful not to overstretch your workers. This can seriously affect morale when they fail to reach these goals. Make sure the goals are realistic, measurable, specific and time bound. Then, follow up on each employee’s progress.
Motivate
The benefits of well-placed motivation are too often ignored by business owners. Motivation ensures that employees get the morale they need to keep going and achieve even higher objectives. You can motivate through positive affirmations and rewards.
Organise team building activities
Day in day out sitting in their desks can bring down employee productivity. To reenergize them, find some team building activities that the workers can do as a team. In addition to getting a break from the office, these activities will foster teamwork which will result in increased productivity.
Provide some freedom to the employees
One of the worst misconceptions of management is that of micromanagement. This is where the boss wants to dictate how every employee does things. This may seem like a good thing but it is actually detrimental to productivity. Creating a sense of freedom shows employees that they are trusted and in turn, they will work hard to earn that trust. So, learn how to manage your workers without having to micromanage them.
Make use of technology
You cannot compare the productivity level of an employee who has to keep filling in records on paper to that of another employee who simply punches in records in a computer. Technology makes work easier, quicker and far more efficient. In the process, productivity goes up. So where you can, make use of technology.
Create an ideal physical work environment
Things like air quality can affect productivity. If your office ventilation is not the best, you will have workers feeling all hot and stuffy. This is not a good recipe for productivity. Make sure that the temperature, humidity and air quality in the office are just right. Also check on things like lighting and office décor. The purpose is to create an office environment that is warm and motivating.
If office productivity keeps on dropping, determine specific factors that may be contributing to this trend. You can even ask for input from your employees.