Proven strategies: increasing the productivity of every area

The productivity of employees measures their results in every company. And, when everything is going well, maybe you don't think about it. However, when things get complicated, operations stop abruptly. 

Everything starts with the commitment of employees. Employees that aren't connected drag the company down; however, those who are committed to the company, stay longer and are more productive.  

The costs of ignoring workers' low productivity are high. Disconnected employees have higher rates of absenteeism and rotation and this situation can reduce your earnings. 

<<< Most connected areas: 8 ways to get it >>> 

Below, you'll find 8 key strategies to increase the productivity of the employees in every area of your company so you can also foster a culture of commitment. 

1. Provide the team with the right tools

The skills of your team are very important for the performance of the business but the tools used by the different areas also play a key role. Choosing the right software tool will make their work easier and will result in an optimized workflow.

Tools for monitoring time and productivity

There's only a limited number of hours in a workday and an infinite number of tasks that the team must carry out. Here, it's where you need a platform that allows you to do a follow-up of the hours of work and the productivity of your team with activity rates. 

You can assign particular projects and tasks to each member of the team so they know exactly what they have to do and can keep track of time more precisely.  

Collaborative tools

Collaborative platforms promote and simplify teamwork. Being able to work together in real-time is beneficial for the chemistry of the team; it also makes ideas flow more naturally. Online collaborative tools can be applications for project management, storing and accessing files, etc.  

Communication tools

Even if the different areas work in a traditional office or remotely, communication tools are essential. You can use emails to communicate but it's very easy to lose track of individual messages in a thread of emails. However, instant messaging apps, such as Slack, keep conversations organized and it's easy for everybody to find messages. Most communication platforms also offer access to shared files so that the workflow of the team is as quick as possible. 

<<< Main problems for not having your systems integrated >>>

2. Train your employees to improve their skills 

Once employees have been hired and they start to work, training them is a very important factor to assure productivity. 

Training likely helps your employees develop their skills to improve their productivity (from small everyday skills to greater ones), such as developing their method to manage time. 

When you improve your training process, you can train new employees without losing your mind. 

3. Foster autonomy not micromanagement 

According to Slaughter, "the best way of encouraging productivity is to encourage people to learn how to manage their time and resources". 

This is the opposite of intuition: less management gets better results. Most people will feel more motivated by autonomy than by financial rewards. 

<<< Business agility: is it the key to success? >>>

Micromanagement can be natural for managers who are used to it. They stand out in daily operations, budget management, and resolution of problems. However, now, they must have a more open mind and it may be difficult to adapt to these changes. 

4. Focus on the future with clear communication

It's true that in romance and business communication is the key to success. 

Without effective and mutual communication, relationships end and companies fail. Managers that can communicate expectations and responsibilities clearly to their employees will be rewarded with a committed and productive labor force. 

Focusing on the future, instead of bringing up past issues, shows a commitment to move forward; this helps you find positive solutions. 

Be careful! It doesn't mean you should ignore past errors; however, it's important you learn how to face negative situations positively and productively. 

For instance, if you hold a meeting to talk about the decrease in production, the meeting will be more productive if you begin talking about the positive aspects at present. 

Having open and positive communication sets a precedent for all the members of your team. 

5. Increase productivity by fostering self-care

Stress at work and fear are the main causes of stress among adults. This is a very serious problem since stressed employees have physical, mental, and emotional problems. They are also less productive. In other words, when a team is stressed, everybody loses. 

However, some stress motivates and is good for productivity. The goal is to fight against exhaustion before it takes place. How? Encouraging members of the team to take care of their mental, physical and emotional health. This means doing whatever it takes to foster a healthy and communicative business culture; so, you need to: 

• Listen to your employees
• Offer them constructive feedback
• Give them challenging and meaningful tasks
• Establish clear parameters for success

Managers also need to discuss self-care with employees by showing to them (not just telling them) that you appreciate them having a good sleep, a balance between their personal and work life, and time to do some exercise and relax. 

6. Do more thanks to remote work

Employees that work remotely are more productive. They usually work more hours, take fewer sick leaves, perform better, and are more committed to their work. 

And, guess what? This allows companies to save a lot of money. 

<<< Home office success: managing remote teams >>>

7. Don't ban social networks

People use their social networks for several reasons. Some of them take a mental rest, others use social tools for strengthening their professional ties and, of course, some of them reduce their productivity. Therefore, forbidding your employees from using social networks to encourage productivity can be a big mistake. 

Strict rules about social networks send the message that you don't trust your employees. 

Moreover, what we can conclude about this is the importance of having a happy labor force, since happy employees are the most productive.

8. Get information by measuring productivity 

"What's measured, it's managed". It's very important to measure productivity correctly; You should start by appreciating the quality of work as much as the quantity and by fighting against implementing general policies that can alienate highly productive employees. 

To measure productivity correctly in the current business environment, you need a platform that allows you to monitor, optimize and manage the projects of all the areas intuitively and easily. 

It all comes down to this: happy and committed employees work harder, better and smarter. Those who are not satisfied with their jobs and feel underestimated can go through the motions and their exhaustion is almost inevitable. 

When the company's culture adds ingredients such as open communication, a self-care approach, autonomy, and the basic human needs of trust and respect, the result is more productive employees. 

Even though creating a corporate culture that fosters positive morals is not always easy, it's important to start. 

Start by opening communication, leaving micromanagement aside, appreciating what your employees do well, and showing interest in them. 

You should take into account that you don't need to spend thousands of dollars to foster the commitment of your teams. All you have to do is putting yourself in their shoes and ask yourself how you can improve their culture of work so they're more productive. 

Devote some time and effort and start increasing the productivity of your employees.