Effective ways to improve your business productivity

Increasing the productivity of your company can improve your bottom-line and help you to weather economic downturns better. Both employees and business owners should take a look at their own work practices in this regard and steps can be put in place to create an environment that both motivates the employees and gives them the necessary tools to succeed. Here are a few tips to look at:

1. Start with yourself
   There is no better place to start than with your own workday. Making yourself more productive will not only be a boost to your company, it will also teach you techniques that you can pass on to your employees.
2. Apply the same productivity-boosting techniques that work for you
   All successful business owners create a balance in their working environment to increase their productivity. Do the same for your employees. Breaks should be encouraged, but you should tweak what is defined as a break to the company’s advantage. Celebrating birthdays or organising team lunches, for example, are a better alternative to some versions of down-time for these events and risks less time being wasted.
3. Create a culture of accountability
   If your staff are given ownership of their work and know they will receive feedback, they will work more meticulously. Accountability also means giving employees a clear sense of direction of the company and how their work contributes to driving the company in that direction. Offering incentives tied to clear targets is a great way to build on this point, increasing employee commitment and drive at all levels of your business.
4. Follow the 2-minute rule
   If a task arises that can be completed in two minutes or less, do it immediately. It will typically take less time to completely it now than coming back to it later. This also provides a brief break between your other tasks, which will make you feel more focussed when you return to other tasks you’re busy with.
5. Allow for remote work and flexible hours
   It does not matter where and when the work gets done, provided the work is completed satisfactorily. Research by the Gallup Poll shows that employees who work remotely part of the time are more engaged and actually work longer hours. Give suitable employees the flexibility to do their best work.
6. Invest in training
   All your employees will benefit from training. It makes them both more valuable with the skills they’ve acquired and creates a sense of indebtedness towards the business for gaining their new skills. Ultimately, training will boost their morale and make them work harder and smarter.
7. Provide the technology your employees need
   Whatever is on your worker’s desktop computers should be available on their laptops, smartphones and tablets as well. This creates a connected, flexible workforce. If employees can only access certain programs at their desk you will lose valuable flexibility that could let them put in a few more hours each week.

Staying connected to your staff will allow you to give them exactly what they need to be better workers. Creating a good working environment is the best thing you can do for yourself, your employees and your business.