A Step-By-Step Guide to Boosting Workplace Productivity

Productivity is the cornerstone of sustainable success. Sector or industry aside, without a cohesive, productive workforce, it’s unlikely that you will survive in the longterm.

 

Studies suggest that in a typical eight-hour shift, most people operate at maximum productivity levels for three to four hours a day.

But, if you take the right measures to boost productivity in your workplace, not only will you increase the hours of optimal output per employee, but you’ll also empower your team to become more efficient in their daily tasks or duties.

In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, everything has shifted—and as we’re thrust into a remote working situation, making strategic adjustments that maintain cohesion, communication, and engagement are vital.

Fortunately, working from home is now a pivotal part of the modern workforce—and studies show that it can actually prove more productive than the traditional nine to five, office-bound corporate model.

Here we consider the steps you should take to maximize productivity in the workplace on a sustainable basis—starting with an examination of your internal framework.

Control your budget

Big challenges require big responses. That said, before you make significant strategic decisions, you should take time to analyze your existing budget.

Once you’ve established your remote working and productivity budget, you should trim the organizational fat by eliminating any redundant SaaS tools or platforms you don’t need—it will also pay to conduct your due diligence on governmental tax alleviation on offices and any other area you might be able to save on in or invest elsewhere in the short-term.

Telecommunitcate

Silos kill productivity. In fact, 86% of business leaders blame poor communication for failure or inefficiency.

If your internal structure is rigid and fails to encourage cross-departmental communication, your overall business output will suffer.

With this in mind, the first step to boosting workplace productivity is reconfiguring the way your departments converse and collaborate.

In the age of coronavirus, it’s vital that you maintain frequent contact with everyone in the business.

By working with project management software and scheduling regular brainstorming sessions though telecommunications platforms like Skype, Zoom or Google Hangouts, you will be able to maintain momentum while keeping every area of the business organized.

For the foreseeable future, telecommuting will form the foundations of your internal success—so, make it a priority.

Boost morale

In these challenging times, it’s important to boost morale and incentivize people to carry on while adjusting to their new work situation. And, as there is a direct correlation between engagement and productivity, boosting morale is the next logical area of focus.

Rather than trying to make your employees work long hours during COVID-19 and produce results when they’re likely to be disengaged, consider how you can help your staff to maximize their output during the hours they are most motivated.

A prime example of a healthy attitude to productivity is the Danish approach to work.

According to a range of surveys and studies, Denmark boasts some of the best workplace satisfaction levels in the world.

As a result, Denmark ranks above average in these critical areas: environmental quality, civic engagement, education, skills, jobs, income, wellbeing, personal security, and social cohesion.

To strike the right balance and optimize productivity within your business, you could consider reducing remote working hours, introduce flexible working options, use performance data to reward and recognize staff members, and host virtual social events including Friday drinks and themed quizzes.

Right now, these measures will have a direct impact on staff productivity, so it’s an area worth investing in.

Work with the scheduling right tools

The final piece of the puzzle boils down to choosing the right tools for the job.

In the digital age, a wealth of platforms, apps, and innovations exist to help everyone within the business streamline their activities while improving internal communication.

To enhance collaboration and task delivery, there are a wealth of initiative tools out there. And, if you’re looking to further optimize your existing efforts while improving your time management initiatives, you should try staff roster software—cutting-edge digital solutions that reduce costs while managing fatigue & overtime.

This four-step framework will help you work towards a more productive, more balanced, and more competitive business environment.

We wish you the best of luck and if you’d like to boost your marketing prospects in the process, read our guide to using social media to promote your business

Alex
 

Alex is a small business blogger with a focus on entrepreneurship and growth. With over 5 years of experience covering the startup and small business landscape, Alex has a reputation for being a knowledgeable, approachable and entrepreneurial-minded blogger. He has a keen understanding of the challenges and opportunities facing small business owners, and is able to provide actionable advice and strategies for success. Alex has interviewed successful entrepreneurs, and covered major small business events such as the Small Business Expo and the Inc. 500|5000 conference. He is also a successful entrepreneur himself, having started and grown several small businesses in different industries.