The Energize guide to boosting productivity

How to increase productivity in the workplace is a challenge business leaders and managers regularly revisit – and for good reason! A productive workplace is the sign of a healthy business and is a great foundation for commercial growth. Productivity is heavily entwined with overall employee engagement. according to Forbes, engaged employees are 27% more likely to get higher performance ratings, and recent studies link employee engagement with higher revenue.

So, what’s causing your workplace productivity and employee engagement to stagnate, and how can you boost business output?

6 factors affecting productivity at work

There are many reasons why your team’s productivity might be suffering. Here are the top six factors that may be affecting productivity in your team:

• Negative work environments
  A negative work environment can quickly sour relationships and cause productivity to plummet. Look out for signs of bullying, identify poor management techniques, and focus instead on promoting healthy workplace relationships.
   
• Lack of development opportunities
  Only 29% of employees are satisfied with the level of training and development opportunities provided by their employer. If employees feel that businesses aren’t invested in them their productivity and happiness suffer, you may also begin to see increased employee turnover.~
   
• Lack of processes
  A lack of concrete processes and organisation around recurring tasks and projects can make it difficult for employees to do their jobs quickly and effectively. Laying out firm processes for regular responsibilities can give your employees structure and free them up to concentrate on more useful projects.
   
• Lack of transparency around pay structures
  A lack of communication surrounding pay structures, how reviews are conducted, and how decisions are made for pay raises and bonuses can breed resentment and confusion. Being clear about policies surrounding remuneration helps employees know where they stand and be more confident that you have a plan for their career path.
   
• Lack of tools and technology
  If your employees do not have access to the tools and technology that they need to do their job to the best of their ability their productivity will suffer. Make sure everyone has the right equipment for the job. 
   
• Problems with staffing
  Finding that project deadlines are consistently not being met might mean that there is too much work for your current workforce to complete. Knowing when to hire new employees can help reinvigorate your teams.

If you’ve noticed that your employee’s productivity is being negatively affected, then you need to find ways to address the factors making it difficult for them to do their jobs.

How to increase productivity in the workplace

Try incorporating some of the below into your BAU activities and watch productivity soar! 

1. Improve your work culture
   Happier employees are more productive, 13% more productive in fact. Employers who want to take advantage of this productivity boost should focus on building a positive work culture based on transparency, openness, trust and communication. Additionally, look out for any negative workplace conditions like heavy workloads, poor management practices and bullying. Give employees the chance to give feedback and show that you have listened and taken that feedback on board by taking steps to address concerns. Employees that have a good experience with your business feel more supported and engaged and will work harder for you.
    
2. Implement processes for recurring tasks
   Every business has operational projects and tasks that have to be completed, but don’t contribute to revenue or core business growth. Tasks like onboarding, delegation, performance reviews, meetings, and offboarding. By implementing definitive processes for these tasks, employees can work to complete them quickly and more effectively, freeing them up to spend time on more valuable activities.
    
3. Focus on employee health and wellbeing 
   Stress, anxiety and burnout can all be major reasons why employees aren’t preforming to the best of their ability. By offering workplace health and wellbeing schemes that support your employees’ physical and mental health, such as counselling services, subsidised gym memberships, healthcare benefits or cycle to work schemes, you can improve performance, reduce absenteeism, and get your teams reaching their full potential.
    
4. Offer training and development 
   Businesses that invest in training and development for their employees are 24% more profitable than those who don’t! Having a tangible programme of workplace training not only makes employees feel more valued and more engaged (and therefore more committed to your business), but you can invest in skills that make your employees more effective leaders, managers, and workers.
    
5. Use technology to support employees 
   There are a myriad of technologies available that can help support your employees’ productivity; from time management software to virtual meeting software. Technology can even be leveraged to automate repetitive admin tasks from submitting invoices to approving holiday and even customer support. Shifting the burden of time-consuming tasks away from your employees makes it easier for them to do their jobs, by reducing traditional human labour output through automation. 
    
6. Consider expanding your team
   Knowing when to hire new staff for small businesses can be challenging. It’s important to balance the expenditure involved with your ability to complete work and grow your business. If deadlines aren’t being met, you are turning work down and your team’s productivity is suffering it might be time to scale up.
    

Are you looking to increase your productivity by scaling up your team?

At Energize Group, we can support you in building a talent attraction strategy that drives your business forward, helping you grow and meet your business objectives. With a global network of more than one million active and passive candidates cultivated over 15 years of recruitment expertise, we can find you the Digital and Technology skills your organisations needs, and assist you with interviewing, onboarding and aftercare. To discuss your growth plans and recruitment challenges, contact Energize today.