5 Ways to Increase Employee Productivity

Increasingly, workforces are finding that they have fewer people to complete more tasks in shorter spaces of time. Of course, we have technology to help us with many of these jobs, streamlining processes and allowing us to maximise our use of time by working smarter. However, that doesn’t always mean that increasing workloads do not bring with them increased amounts of stress, and with stress now being the leading cause of absenteeism at work, both individuals and the companies they work for are suffering as a result. It therefore makes sense to find ways to help staff increase their productivity. For some businesses, this will mean that the amount of man hours can be reduced, while for others it will simply ensure that morale is boosted and that a workforce can complete their tasks in a more focussed and effective manner. For individuals, finding ways of working in a smarter way can allow them to finish on time rather than constantly feeling on the back foot and staying late (something that is increasingly common for workers across the board), and will ensure that they feel their work is manageable, reducing stress levels and boosting job satisfaction. So what are the best ways to boost productivity, and job satisfaction in the process? Remember there is more to life than work One of the best ways of increasing productivity is to ensure downtime is prioritised outside of work, and even, at times, in the workplace. Allowing yourself or your staff the ability to completely switch off away from the office will do wonders for their emotional wellbeing. Likewise, allowing individuals the opportunity to relax when workflow is leaner rather than desperately searching to give them something to do simply because they are there and being paid, may well ensure that they have higher reserves of mental energy to complete the truly important tasks when they face them. Surprisingly, cultural influences can feed into this. Experiments and research have shown that many in the West believe that reserves of mental willpower and focus are finite, and when workers are overly taxed on one task, they will perform far less effectively on the next, no matter how tough it happens to be. Allowing individuals time to relax and unwind is likely to give them a boost of mental reserve, placebo or not, and at the same time allow them to feel in far better mental and emotional health. Keep it light As well as regular breaks to top up those mental reserves and allow staff to feel that their workload is not overwhelming, humour could play an important role in helping people to be more productive. Multiple studies have shown that brief diversions during work help to aid overall concentration and quality of work, but the diversions that help the most are those that are funny. Surprisingly, watching a short, funny video might actually make workers more focussed and better at their job, so be sure not to sap the fun out of the office environment. Whether you simply encourage a relaxed and enjoyable work environment or allow staff a couple of minutes every few hours to watch something funny online, keeping humour levels high really could help improve productivity all round. Reduce the number of meetings you have Common wisdom dictates that two heads are better than one. Therefore, bringing multiple people together for regular meetings should help your business achieve far more. Today, however, with modern technology on hand, this is not necessarily the case. Huge amounts of time are wasted on meetings that are unimportant or that include individuals who really do not need to be there and who are seeing their workload pile-up back at their desk as every wasted minute goes by. Collaboration is likely to be important for any business, but before calling a long, lengthy and potentially soporific meeting, consider which individuals truly need to be involved, and whether or not the same goals can be achieved by collaborating less formally, or via email or a quick phone call. Asking for help Even with the best will in the world, it will sometimes be impossible for an individual to complete all the work they have to do in the time they have to do it. While not overloading staff with work will help them to focus better on the most important tasks, ensuring they feel comfortable asking for help will also make a huge difference. If staff feel pressured to complete every single item on their to-do list as quickly as possible, they are likely to take work home with them on a regular basis and potentially feel resentful of their job as a result. They may also simply not feel comfortable with certain tasks they have to complete, and feeling in a position where they can ask for help or training on a subject may well make sure that a job gets done in a timely manner and is not constantly moved to the back of a very long work queue. It may also ensure that the job gets done to the highest possible standard too. Making sure your staff feel comfortable asking for help and can delegate some of their workload when things get on top of them without fear of judgement or reprisal, could well boost work satisfaction and productivity in equal measures. Have a plan The ability to multitask effectively is an attribute that is well sought after in today’s fast-paced and constantly evolving world of work. Yet multitasking, no matter how effectively, may be something that decreases productivity. Studies have shown that having a plan and sticking to one specific task before moving on will not only speed up the process, but also ensure that a task is completed more effectively too. This means that it may be wise for staff to only check emails once an important task is complete rather than allowing external distractions and additional tasks to take their minds off what is in front of them. So, if you want to be as productive as possible, have a plan, stick to it, and then once a job is complete have a quick break to enjoy something funny before moving on to the next important task.