All businesses depend on the productivity of their workforce to succeed. However, motivating your employees to be more productive is not a simple task to accomplish. You can try asking nicely or ruling with an iron fist, but you probably will find out that neither method works. Employee productivity can only be achieved if employees are happy with their job and feel empowered to work harder. Here is a list of the best 10 tricks of employee development that maximize work productivity:
1. Provide employees with the right technology.
Lacking the right tools to carry out their job is one of the things that make employees lack motivation, feel frustrated, and become less productive at work. Luckily, today there is an advancement in technology that has created various equipment that promotes employees’ productivity by making their work easier. Acquire the materials your employees need to enjoy automated tasks and software that make them work efficiently and accurately.
2. Train employees to improve their skills.
Many businesses use the strategy of “learning on the job” to train their employees. They consider offering professional training to employees a waste of time and resources. However, it is crucial to do this because it affects work productivity. Take the time to teach your employees the skills they require to do their job through individual coaching, seminars, or courses. This not only ensures employee development but also increases their efficiency and productivity and grows your business. After all, you will no longer spend your time explaining simple questions and correcting errors.
3. Improve company culture by hiring good employees.
Focusing on hierarchies and individual success is not the right approach to maximize work productivity. When hiring, you should know that applicants might be passionate about working for you, but they might not be a good fit for your business. Contribute to employee productivity by emphasizing building relationships and rewarding teamwork. Approach your hiring criteria as a form of courtship, which means you should hire employees who make a good cultural fit in the business. New workers should be capable of working well with your current employees and help them feel motivated, as well as increase their productivity.
4. Encourage employees autonomy.
Employees feel unhappy and filled with tension when they have no freedom at work. Hovering around them at all times makes them nervous and perform poorly hence resulting in low productivity. Back off from constantly reminding them of their jobs and encourage them to manage themselves. Trust and let them enjoy autonomy by carrying out their tasks independently. You will see good results and more productivity than before.
5. Communicate effectively.
The key to success is effective communication. Use communication strategies that save time and focus on the future, not on the past. Focus on holding short and focused meetings. Encourage one-on-one interactions instead of the unnecessary exchange of e-mails. This boosts the productivity of your employees because they will feel connected to the business’ goal and mission.
6. Encourage self-care.
Burnout is real in any workplace. Daily tasks may cause physical, mental, and emotional stress on your employees, leading to low productivity. Encourage your employees to practice self-care and foster their well-being by:
- Listening to their challenges
- Offering constructive feedback
- Giving them meaningful work
- Updating their work equipment
- Encouraging good sleep, exercise and work/life balance
- Taking them for work trips
7. Support remote jobs.
Over the past years, employers wouldn’t support work-from-home jobs because they felt they had no control over the activities of their employees from afar. With advanced technology, your workers can efficiently telecommute and be productive at the same time. Consider giving it a test because it is economical for both the business and the employees. For instance, a sick worker can still be productive when working remotely as compared to skipping work.
8. Appreciate good work.
Employers fail to realize that most employees don’t necessarily need a pay rise to feel appreciated at work. Offering small incentives to motivate employees to meet a certain objective or recognizing a job well done is what most employees need to feel motivated and remain productive.
9. Set goals and measure productivity.
Many times, employers use primitive methods of measuring productivity, such as the number of working hours, overtime, or meetings an employee attended, etc. These methods have no positive effect on employee productivity. Instead, set achievable goals for each employee and develop a measurement strategy, such as output divided by input, for your employees to have something to motivate them and still track their performance hence increased productivity.
10. Know your employees.
Take the time to get to know what motivates your employees and what they are going through. This improves their productivity because they feel you care about them and you have a strong connection, thus inspiring them to work harder.
These 10 tips have your employees’ development at the core and are easy to implement. Happy and engaged employees are more productive and efficient at their work. Apply these tips and you will see changes in the productivity of your employees. It is not the strict rules that make employees productive but the friendly environment of your business that makes employees feel they are part of your business mission, making them willing to work harder and thus increasing productivity.
Hugh Fennell is a psychologist and a blogger.
