Workplace productivity is a challenge in many organizations, with most workers being unproductive for at least an hour every day according to a study by Gallup. Workplace productivity is a necessity that no company should ignore because it determines whether the business prospers or stagnates. If you manage a business, you may want to avoid routine work, but sometimes it is inevitable, and you are bound to encounter situations that extinguish employee motivation. For your venture to thrive, you ought to identify productivity killers and mitigate them.
Keep Morale Up
The mood in your office has an impact on productivity. Low morale results in poor cooperation, which might prevent a company from attaining its goals. If you have notice low morale among the employees, consider these creative tactics.
Make sure the employees feel that their work is more than merely a job. Everyone thrives when they are working towards a higher purpose. Celebrate accomplishments by appreciating the achievements that employees make. Ditch the use of emails and resort to face-to-face communication.
Reference: https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/220000
Curb Gossip and Cliques
If you thought cliques are a high school “thing,” you thought wrong. 43 percent of workers say that cliques populate their office. Although every organization wants their companies to get along, groups can be more damaging to employee productivity than they are rewarding. Besides making some employees feel less worthy than others, they also promote gossip.
Ever heard of the adage that goes “kill them with kindness?” The best way to handle mean workplace cliques is to remain positive in all situations. Managers should set the tone with regards to how people will be treated. Educate people by bringing in social experts and holding workshops. Also, mix up people when you can, both in the office and during social workplace events; resist favoritism.
Reference: http://www.careerbuilder.com/share/aboutus/pressreleasesdetail.aspx?sd=7%2F24%2F2013&id=pr773&ed=12%2F31%2F2013
Discourage Drug Abuse
A study by the unit of Health and Human Services established that 18.9 million adults are dependent on substances and 52 percent of them are unemployed. Unfortunately, many employers fail to notice the signs of substance abuse among the employees, and this ends up in reduced workplace productivity. Some of the indicators include residual alcohol smell, coming to work late, absenteeism, overactive, and bloodshot eyes.
If you are concerned about drug abuse, consult experts and find help for the employee. Talk to local organizations to find out if they can recommend educational materials and resources to help people dealing with substance abuse. Also, explore your insurance coverage to see if they cover treatment for the affected employees.
Reference: https://drugtreatmentguideweb.wordpress.com/2017/08/23/preventing-drug-abuse-in-the-workplace/
Reduce Distractions
The use of cell phones and internet browsing in the workplace has affected productivity significantly. Unfortunately, employees are unable to control these tendencies on their own, leaving managers with no other option but to enforce micromanaging policies. Here are some ways to enhance employee focus without restricting their freedom.
Accept that employees might require carrying out some personal businesses at the workplace. Use a tool that can measure internet usage by the domain, and implement an approach that allows them to use particular sites only. Also, schedule time for distractions to let employees answer emails and take a breather.
Reference: https://www.theguardian.com/small-business-network/2014/dec/17/internet-restriction-apps-productivity
Structure Breaks and Lunch
When work is stressful every other day, employees are bound to experience burnouts. The manager is often left wondering what happened to their highly motivated employees. That is why you should include breaks during the workday.
For starters, make meal breaks mandatory. After every six hours, allow the employees to take a 30-minute break. Include rest breaks, where an employee is at liberty to break for ten minutes after working for four continuous hours. Restroom and breastfeeding breaks should not have any limit; they should be permitted when the need arises.
Effectively Communicate Goals
When employees do not understand a company’s goals, they will not be optimally productive. Unfortunately, many leaders are unable to convey the goals effectively. Consider these tips.
Keep the message simple and precise. While you might have a deep meaning to why the company exists, employees understand goals better when communicated in simple terms. Align the goals with the employee’s role. Also, keep track of the progress that the workers are making towards achieving the goals.
Converting a group of people into a productive team of experts is not easy. Besides, everyone has different work habits, preferences, and perceptions. However, the above six tips are essential to making the journey less bumpy.
Capone Creative, LLC is a full service, in-house web and graphics design studio that specializes in providing creative clients a brand & website that expresses their business to the world in a memorable way.
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