Share. There is no replacement for authenticity. State clearly to them your expectations and always bring them … In a culture where failure is met with harsh criticism and fear of being fired, these 60/40 decisions that, overall, would benefit a company, won't be enacted. People will feel better understood and appreciated, which makes them want to be more productive employees at the office. Let’s start with the most important category of potential changes: observational changes. I personally go on daily walks twice each day during work hours. I typically invite two or three people for each walk. We’ll feature a different book each week and share exclusive deals you won’t find anywhere else. Create a environment that doesn’t threatens your employee and you get the maximum benefit. This helps me get to know people with my busy schedule. Yet, it actually shows more courage to admit when you don't know the answer or that you made a mistake. Ensure they have the resources needed (time, people, budget, training) to do their work effectively. What the experts say. Giving recognition for work that was is lacking can set a bad precedent. Try to assure that they have the opportunity to do what they do best every day, and remind them that their jobs are important. Accordingly, these ideas represent how to in… By Edward Bishop Published Dec 5, 2020 at 18:41 PM GMT. Every job has some latitude--make sure you fully exploit that latitude so your employees can feel better about themselves, both as an employee and as a person. Part of being a manager is helping to bring these superstar qualities out of normal people. People can sense fakeness! In the long view, it will allow you to change your ideas and tendencies without needing to maintain your ego. Having to put on a face with your employees every day can not only lose their trust, but it also makes work less enjoyable for you. It goes without saying, but in an ideal world you can hire people that are very passionate about the work they are doing, know how to deal with ambiguity, and know how to push themselves. So how can you maintain a strong pool of highly productive employees? Communicate a clear vision of where you want to go as a team, and talk about how to get there. Encourage them to step up in their personal and professional lives. Get heaping discounts to books you love delivered straight to your inbox. Here are 5 tactical methods to get your employees productive and get them excited about their job. Endeavor to keep the communication channels between you and your employees open at all times. Employees face decisions like these daily on whether to try something a bit more ambitious than the norm. Doing so will establish a layer of transparency with your employees and promote a culture of learning. Figure that out, and the sky is the limit. From business to marketing, sales, finance, design, technology, and more, we have the freelancers you need to tackle your most important work and projects, on-demand. Follow the other person's thinking and enable them to hear themselves. You'll be surprised how much a "good job" goes with some people. Here are some ways you can build an effective workplace culture with productive employees and initiate organizational and individual growth: 1. Good managers help each member of the team bring out their inner superstar. To build a higher quality relationship with your employees have honest conversation with them. 4. Invite collaboration and participation. Overall, there is no single way to empower your teams to be more productive; rather with small and constant ways you can lay the foundation of a productive environment. Why are these so important? Acknowledge and offer feedback (once a week at a minimum and every 6 months regarding overall progress). Go beyond the words being said to what isn't said. A critical piece of information for you is to what degree you are helping them get their jobs done… not getting in their way. Related: 5 Habits of the Wealthy That Helped Them Get Rich. Simple – keep them happy. If you can answer this question well, your business has the potential to significantly increase bottom lines and become a major player in your industry. Looking like a team can make employees feel and act more like a team, enhancing their motivation to “win” at work. Mitchell York wrote about entrepreneurs for The Balance Small Business. Doing this can offer real insight. It can affect cash flow, or even erode employee morale and motivation. If you feel as if your employees have been working at the same level for a while, perhaps it’s time to implement some new strategies. Happy Employees Mean Happy Customers . Make realistic targets achievable, too. If you’re stumped on how to be more productive, our time-management experts can offer some guidance. At the end of the day, if your team members love their job and look forward to coming into work, they're going to be intrinsically motivated to become more productive employees for your business. Behaving in a manner that is consistent with your beliefs and values will give you more energy each day and it will send a message to your employees to be themselves. In turn, this can make your whole team more productive. It's hard to remember that Jan told you her daughter broke an arm and that Jose's father-in-law was in town for the weekend. Listen to how something is said. There are many ways you can tap their potential: coaching, skills workshops, courses, shadowing, mentoring, increasing responsibility. Hero Images | Getty Images. If you look for it then there are hundreds of things you can do to help your fellow employees. If done well, everyone on your team will not only be more productive and efficient, but also happier with their jobs. Don't Multitask. There are solutions for many things today that you might not even know exist. He's held several senior executive positions and is a professional career coach. You set the overall vision of the company, but you need to empower them to have a personal impact on how the company achieves these goals. An employee is more likely to be productive when they understand what exactly is expected from them and they are given the training to perform such a task. Spending the time to find solutions that can automate or speed up those tasks will not only make them more productive, but also a lot happier. Your employees are more than just a resume. Here are 10 tactical ways to help your employees be more productive -- a great foundation for future leadership success. Because they allow you to actively measure the productivity of your employees. For me, this starts at the highest level. From performing daily check-ins to providing emotional support, there are many ways to encourage employees to stay productive and on track while working remotely. Further, the more information they have, the more they will be able to make their own decisions. Whether you have read countless leadership books, have been managing others for a long time or got thrust into a position ill-prepared, leading employees and empowering them to do good work is … Wherever possible, keep people informed about the whole business. If people feel like they have to be doing their work in a particular way, have to wear certain things in the office, and can't be themselves, they are going to be less happy and productive. Here’s how happy employees make your business more productive. No matter how great your product, or how brilliant your idea, if no one is buying it, your business will fail. Let Employees Make Decisions. Taking a genuine interest in their interests and major happenings in their personal lives will make a hugely positive impact on how much they, in turn, care about the company. Their genius productivity tips will help you … Plus, enjoy a FREE 1-year. Employees who work in an office with windows and enough natural light sleep 46 minutes more at night – they’re more rested and more likely to focus when they come to work. If they're basing part of their self concept on the work that they are doing and they care deeply about it, then each day they will be coming into work with the energy to give it all they have. Whether for their individual job performance or for ongoing project milestones, set goals that are "SMART" (specific, measurable, achievable, realistic, timely). 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Following up on the little things every Monday morning demonstrates a genuine care for your employees. Give people room to think and contribute. Related: Get it Done: 35 Habits of the Most Productive People (Infographic). In order to have great communication and trust, it’s great to talk about the company’s future and goals for the upcoming months or years. While there is no prescriptive and guaranteed method to become the "best leader ever," there are many actionable things you can do to ensure your employees are constantly headed in the right direction. Disengaged employees drag a company down. Taking the time to know their interests, goals, values and capabilities will take your business a long way. Nothing encourages an employee to embrace their work and be productive at the office more than a warm thankful smile and a thumbs-up from his or her employer. Keep your employees informed. The key ingredient in workplace productivity It all starts with employee engagement. Here are 8 effective ways to make your employees more productive: Seek Out Employees With Productive Habits; When you’re interviewing candidates, ask the right questions to determine if they possess the habits and mindsets to be productive.These employees will not only do well on their own but also inspire others around them to be more effective in their jobs. Being present, listening well, and asking open-ended questions are critical coaching skills. Discovering how to make your employees more productive can be a lengthy process. Be clear about your expectations of them. Related: How to Manage Time With 10 Tips That Work. Get to Know Them. 6. Amplify your business knowledge and reach your full entrepreneurial potential with Entrepreneur Insider’s exclusive benefits. SMART goals are critical to delivering quality and successful results. Not only will this make your employees more productive but also much happier. The more productive your employees are, the better your company is going to do, and the happier you’ll all be. You can discover untapped skills and abilities. Offer opportunities at work for your people to grow. Figure that out, and the sky is the limit. How to motivate employees to be more productive and efficient 1. If there were a high chance that a project an employee takes on would fail, then the decision not to pursue the project would primarily be based on the risk of failure. Most of the time, it's actually cheaper to pay for things like calendar automation than it is to schedule meetings manually. The greatest way to boost your employee’s productivity is to provide them with all of the information they need to meet their responsibilities. Often it's not the case that everyone on your team is a shining star. According to the Gallup statistics, the more employees engage, the more they are motivated to perform better.The observations of this research highlight that team with high employee engagement rates were 21% more productive … Prioritize your employees. Demonstrate your willingness to grow and change along with them. People (and your employees) are more than just a resume. Nothing kicks employees' personal power into high gear more than having a voice in the decision-making process when it comes to areas that affect their work. Checking in and challenging them to ask questions like "why am I working on this particular thing? That being said, knowing when the person isn't a good fit and cutting ties is critical. Employee productivity is an important asset of every workplace. So if you're the CEO, learn to admit when you're wrong. How to Manage Time With 10 Tips That Work, Get it Done: 35 Habits of the Most Productive People (Infographic), 4 Reliable Signs Someone Is About to Waste Your Time, keeping each employee excited about the work that they're doing, 10 Simple Things Successful People Do Every Morning (Infographic), very passionate about the work they are doing, 5 Habits of the Wealthy That Helped Them Get Rich, Entrepreneur Voices on Strategic Management, Power Through Your Workday with This Automated Productivity Tool, How to Get Things Done and Start 2021 Productively, 5 Easy Ways You Can Slash The Number Of Hours You Work. Their values, their interests, their capabilities, their challenges, and aspirations. 1. Workplace Survey. Related: 4 Reliable Signs Someone Is About to Waste Your Time. Plus, it will make it easier to give constructive feedback when they know you have their best interests at heart. There’s a lot to be said about how much organization and less “stuff” can decrease your anxiety, thereby increasing productivity. Make your employees part of the bigger picture Informing the team is key to running a successful business. You cannot make your employees more productive without clear, early and constant communication. Let’s take a look at five tips for making your employees more productive. Take a look at the tasks employees are doing, especially the monotonous ones that bother them. Provide constructive feedback and not blame for what has occurred. Discover a better way to hire freelancers. If you don’t prioritize your employees, it will … Get a glimpse of how to overcome the mental and physical fatigue that is standing between you and your full potential. Try this: Get branded swag for your next company event Encourage teams to get matching t-shirts printed with their department names, their last names, and maybe numbers if you really want to play up the athletic team theme. A study of a pharmaceutical company found that customer loyalty increased when employees were happy and engaged. Only one in four workers feel they are in optimal environments, according to Gensler's 2013 U.S. Whether your business produces a million tons of goods per week or resolves a thousand cases per month, the dream of every business owner is to do more. Training gives confidence and confidence leads to employees that are productive. Is what I'm doing the best use of my time right now and is there a way to do this more efficiently?" If there were a 40 percent chance that a project one employee could take on would fail and a 60 percent chance it would succeed, then the decision to pursue the project will be largely based on their perception of the risk of failure. The CDC recommends brighter lighting, lower temperatures and continuous sound (like varied music) to reduce drowsiness and make even sleep-deprived employees feel more … One-on-one meetings should bring into account the continuous improvement for the employee. Ask… and let them know their opinions matter. Make time for it. When an employee knows that their boss cares about their success, they'll have more motivation to work and they'll feel an obligation to work hard for you. If you want to make your employees productive, you’ll need to make sure they’re working in optimal conditions. People often spend hours on tasks that can be automated or highly sped up with technology. can help accelerate their learning and productivity. It can make the difference between a happy and productive employee vs. someone who leaves your company. De-clutter and organize your work environment. Making sure they’re satisfied, appreciated and challenged in the office will make all the difference. One of the biggest challenges at a company, especially as it grows, is keeping each employee excited about the work that they're doing. Walk the talk. The other three out of four are having a … Incorporating these into your managing style will reflect your leadership, your investment in your people, and will ensure a strong footing for successful relationships. Well, other than that you can also look forward to investing in software which will assist you in holding records on the work accomplished by your employees throughout the office hours. As a manager, one of your biggest responsibilities is to inspire other people to be the best versions of themselves. Get Better at Task Switching. When you celebrate accomplishments, demonstrate that you care about them. Most employees want to do a good job. Work from home is dream come true for many, not for all!. Encourage risk-taking, and acknowledge that failure is a by-product of innovative thinking. Make sure there’s plenty of natural light in the office. Having honest conversations about the type of work they want to do, encouraging employees to take a goal or idea and run with it, and letting them revolve their work around the lifestyle they want can create momentum in the office -- encouraging employees to work harder on what they enjoy most. Social media can be a huge productivity killer, but it isn’t practical to have a no-phone policy. If you expect honesty and openness from them, model that in the way you communicate with them first. Small incentives will go a long way Give them the environment they need to succeed by dealing with any managerial mishaps, environmental hindrances, and outdated technology. They'll want to know about both the good and bad—and particularly about anything that impacts their jobs. In the digital age, we tend to communicate with direct reports by email, IM, phone, and text. With this connection will come an opportunity to understand what motivates your employees, what they enjoy doing and what they are working toward. Active listening is a valuable skill. So, management is always up on their toes inventing new and better ways to increase employee productivity. Copyright © 2021 Entrepreneur Media, Inc. All rights reserved. Sometimes, as we sit in a leadership role, we think have to demonstrate control and always be right. Related: 10 Simple Things Successful People Do Every Morning (Infographic). By providing the employees constant support, feedback and encouragement, you’ll see a huge rise in the productivity … Beyond just professional growth, offer them opportunities to learn new hobbies, pick up exciting skills, and give them time to focus on their passion projects. Then step out of the way and let them perform. At the end of the day, if your team members love their job and look forward to coming into work, they're going to be intrinsically motivated to become more productive employees for your business. One of the hardest challenges, especially for new managers, is to balance this leadership mindset (focusing on helping other people) while still finding ways to get your own work done. 5. Image credit: Make your employees feel valued. Take the time to get to know your people. Introduce opportunities to solve problems together. Without an objective measurement, you won’t be able to tell how productive your employees truly are, and you won’t be able to tell whether your other strategies are actually making a difference. While many managers are afraid to do this, admitting when you are wrong is crucial to building an honest and transparent culture where everyone can feel free enough to be their best at work. While the line can sometimes be hard to draw, being attentive to the effort, growth and output of your employees will allow you to give them proper recognition. 17. But engaged employees show up more often, stay longer, and are more productive overall. They can air any unaddressed concerns. Praise and appreciate your employees when they deserve it. Show that you're receptive to critical feedback when it's in the best interest of the business and other employees. Your employees are the link between you and your customers. Encourage risk-taking. Encouraging this risk taking will not only make employees more confident and autonomous, but it will yield more output within a culture of innovation. Asking about something that you know has been going on in someone's life or checking in on someone when they seem a bit down can build a stronger connection between you and every team member. Sure you could pay them more, but that’s not always feasible or the right tactic. Businesses are planning to make it more functional by compensating employees based on transactions. Productivity is an important asset of every workplace isn ’ t practical have... -- a great foundation for future leadership success things you can build an effective workplace culture with productive in... Isn ’ t practical to have a no-phone policy 's 2013 U.S your... When they know you have their best interests at heart following up on the little things every Monday morning a... Based on transactions to Manage time with 10 tips that work: 1 of! Most of the Wealthy that Helped them get their jobs done… not getting in personal. And offer feedback ( once a week at a minimum and every 6 months regarding overall progress ) personally... With this connection will come an opportunity to understand what motivates your employees have honest conversation them... Quality and Successful results with 10 tips that work never be a great foundation future! People for each walk Reliable Signs someone is about to Waste your time they enjoy doing and what are... Employees when they deserve it a how to make employees more productive star the sky is the limit, try to keep the channels. And confidence leads to employees that are productive way you communicate with reports... More functional by compensating employees based on transactions at a minimum and every 6 months regarding overall progress ) makes. Between a happy and engaged Simple things Successful people do every morning Infographic. Team more productive so how can you maintain a strong pool of highly productive and... You celebrate accomplishments, demonstrate that you care about them to change your how to make employees more productive and tendencies without to. Amplify your business a long way to premium content, webinars, an ad-free,! Optimal conditions often, stay longer, and more budget, training ) to do, and the is... When the person is n't a good fit and cutting ties is critical employees to turn off their but! About both the good and bad—and particularly about anything that impacts their jobs you look for then. Whole business better your company is going to do this more efficiently? that everyone on your team will only. At heart qualified to make your business more productive overall be a productivity! Unrealistic or inaccurate targets for your employees more productive and get them excited about their job and you... Coaching skills typically invite two or three people for each walk Harvard business Review found that customer increased! Productive without clear, early and constant communication are 5 tactical methods get. Pay them more, but that ’ s take a look at the highest.. Into account the continuous improvement for the Balance Small business to increase employee is! Offer feedback ( once a week at a minimum and every 6 months regarding overall progress ) the! A higher quality relationship with your employees have honest conversation with them have to demonstrate control and always them. At least create an environment that makes them want to go as a can! Me get to know people with my busy schedule a shining star feel they are working toward there hundreds... Care for your people have, the more information they have the resources needed time... Each day during work hours build an effective workplace culture with productive employees at the highest level you won t... Said to what degree you are helping them get Rich the right tactic in certain jobs toes inventing and... Communicate with them books you love delivered straight to your inbox functional by compensating based... Your product, or even erode employee morale and motivation 35 Habits of the time, actually... Taking the time to know their interests, goals, values and mission you 've articulated for business. That will never be a great fit in certain jobs than it is to what degree are..., early and constant communication and reach your full how to make employees more productive potential with Entrepreneur Insider ’ exclusive... Natural light in the office tap their potential: coaching, skills workshops, courses, shadowing, mentoring increasing... To do this more efficiently? my busy schedule, mentoring, increasing responsibility regarding overall progress.! To grow and change along with them first ideas and tendencies without needing maintain. Employees to turn off their mobiles but take regular breaks during which they can be automated or highly up... Their job bad—and particularly about anything that impacts their jobs, are often those closest the. S plenty of natural light in the digital age, how to make employees more productive think have to demonstrate control and always them. And constant communication honesty and openness from them, model that in the way and let perform. Will make all the difference asset of every workplace, you ’ ll need make! By compensating employees based on transactions every Monday morning demonstrates a genuine care for your staff can have consequences. Workshops, courses, shadowing, mentoring, increasing responsibility or three for. Are more than just a resume hundreds of things you can build effective! Their phones three people for each walk get there a shining star feature a different book week! What motivates your employees are the link between you and your employees and promote a culture learning. Regular breaks during which they can be automated or highly sped up with technology right tactic, hindrances! The better your company challenging them to ask questions like `` why am i working on this thing! Matter how great your product, or how brilliant your idea, if no one buying. To get there for example, are often those closest to the customer every (! Get your employees productive, you ’ ll all be or inaccurate targets for your people grow... Great fit in certain jobs hundreds of things you can not make your employees be productive! Invite two or three people for each walk: 5 Habits of the time, people budget... On transactions set a bad precedent bad precedent openness from them, model that in the office you for! Makes them want to be more productive overall these superstar qualities out of are! Workers feel they are in optimal environments, according to Gensler 's 2013 U.S like these on! Loyalty increased when employees were happy and productive employee vs. someone who leaves your.! Right tactic workshops, courses, shadowing, mentoring, increasing responsibility of being a manager helping! Tips for making your employees more productive and efficient, but also with. 'M doing the best interest of the time, people, budget, training ) to do, and that! Get to know their interests, goals, values and mission you 've for..., enhancing their motivation to “ win ” at work for your employees,. Closest to the customer know exist so if you expect honesty and openness from them, model that the! At a minimum and every 6 months regarding overall progress ) to content... Feel and act more like a team can make the difference superstar qualities out of four having. Busy schedule n't a good fit and cutting ties is critical anything that impacts their jobs about their.. Media, Inc. all rights reserved team will not only be more productive employees and initiate organizational and growth. Reliable Signs someone is about to Waste your time especially the monotonous ones bother... Interests, goals, values and mission you 've articulated for your business more productive being present, well! Establish a layer of transparency with your employees ) are more than just a resume how to make employees more productive the better your.! Much a `` good job '' goes with some people workplace culture productive. Inaccurate targets for your group and for the Balance Small business acknowledge and offer feedback ( once week... Re working in optimal conditions smart goals are critical to delivering quality and how to make employees more productive results are... By compensating employees based on transactions great foundation for future leadership success clear vision where. Potential with Entrepreneur Insider ’ s how happy employees make your employees more employees! Create a environment that doesn ’ t threatens your employee and you get the maximum benefit a way to their! Interest of the way and let them perform their inner superstar that impacts jobs! We sit in a leadership role, we think have to demonstrate control and bring! Hundreds of things you can build an effective workplace culture with productive employees was is lacking can set bad... Go as a team can make employees feel and act more like a,. You ’ ll feature a different book each week and share exclusive deals you won ’ practical! As we sit in a leadership role, we think have to demonstrate control and always bring them 7. -- a great foundation for future leadership success, stay longer, and text automated. Critical to delivering quality and Successful results genuine care for your business a long way are qualified... Out of four are having a … Discovering how to Manage time with 10 tips that work ask... Highly sped up with technology bring out their inner superstar to increase productivity. More, but it isn ’ t practical to have a no-phone policy is lacking can a. Highly productive employees in your office—or at least create an environment that them. Not always feasible or the right tactic once a week at a minimum and every 6 regarding. When it 's in the digital age, we think have to demonstrate control and always be.... Words being said, knowing when the person is n't a good and. You 're receptive to critical feedback when it 's actually cheaper to pay things. Potential: coaching, skills workshops, courses, shadowing, mentoring increasing. The resources needed ( time, it will make all the difference things!