3 Simple Tips for Improving Workplace Efficiency
Time is money, and an inefficient workplace means you’re sinking money into unproductive and often unnecessary business practices. Often, eliminating these hurdles to productivity might just be what your business needs to boost workplace morale and employee satisfaction. If you want tips on improving workplace efficiency, here are a few tips for you.
- Use the right equipment
Providing your office with the right tools and equipment is key to getting tasks done efficiently. Take advantage of technological innovations and incorporate them into your business practices to reduce delays and downtime. An example would be to use a projector ceiling mount instead of a projector that employees carry and set-up in the meeting room before a presentation. You may think this is a minor thing, but minutes spent unpacking the projector, setting it up, then packing it back up and returning it to the storage closet adds up. If it takes around 10 minutes to do all that the projector is used every time, and you used the projector once every workday, your employee would’ve spent 200 minutes on this mundane task alone in one month. That’s 2 hours and 40 minutes your employee could’ve spent doing something more productive for the company. Even if there’s an additional cost associated with mounting the projector onto the ceiling, that cost will be well worth it if it means more productivity.
- Streamline major processes
Consult with an operations expert and audit company procedures. More often than not, there exist steps that only lengthen the process for no good reason. You can also ask your employees for feedback. As the people carrying out these tasks, they are more attuned to the inefficiencies in the system.
Many losses and avoidable expenses can be attributed to delays in communication and approval. An example would be a vendor offering a price drop for early-bird buyers. If the procurement cycle takes too long, you might miss the opportunity to cut costs. Find a way to shorten the turnaround time for these processes.
- Enforce a more positive workplace culture
Happy employees are productive employees. No one will be willing to put in the extra work if they’re not being treated well. Encourage and motivate your employees through positive reinforcement. Instead of scolding or humiliating your employees for mistakes at work, offer praise and incentives for getting tasks done within the deadline. Instead of imposing a deadline on your employees, allow them to negotiate. Saying “Do you think you can submit this by Tuesday?” instead of “Submit this on Tuesday.” has a big psychological effect on your employees.
The problem with workplace inefficiency is that it’s often so ingrained in the existing office culture that it’s hard to see. If there’s an opportunity, observe other workplaces to see how they operate or work with management experts to see what could be improved. Small changes in employee habits and workplace procedures could impact your overall productivity in big ways, so keep an open mind and be willing to change for the good of the business.
