3 ways to increase workforce productivity

Productivity in the workplace is one of the biggest challenges faced by businesses.

There are a number of factors that impact productivity, from motivation to employee wellbeing, skills and training. So to combat them effectively, you need to understand the causes of these issues, how your working environment contributes to them, and how to deal with them.

Pushing too hard can contribute to burnout, but a lack of inspiration can cause teams to drift and leave you stuck in the same place, or worse - going backwards.

With all these things in mind, these are just three ways you can increase productivity in your workforce.

1. Set realistic expectations

Often a drop or stagnation in productivity isn’t just about a lack of effort.

In fact, it’s simply that those efforts are misdirected because employees don’t know where to focus.

Your team should at all times be working towards clear, measured and achievable goals. By outlining expectations and how they can be achieved, you remove any ambiguity and reduce the risk of mission creep.

However, when setting your goals, remember that aiming too high can also have the opposite effect.

Trying to achieve too much in unrealistic timeframes can increase stress which reduces overall motivation, and result in cutting corners, rushing or skipping essential tasks which are crucial to the end product.

By having a clear destination - and a defined path to achieve it - you can help your team expend energy where it matters to get the best results.

2. Review resources

Sometimes reduced productivity isn’t just the result of apathy.

Often, it can be the case that your team is ill-equipped to handle growth and evolution, in which case they need more support to keep projects moving in the right direction.

For instance, the introduction of a new CRM system may be designed to prevent missed client opportunities and organise workflows in a more effective way. But new systems can also cause chaos, and if your team hasn’t had sufficient training to make the most of the platform, what you have is an investment of both money and time in a system that could work efficiently, but currently does not.

Take advantage of engagement and training tools to aid your employees’ continued development. For instance, with platforms like FlexiQuiz, you can create assessments and training programmes tailored to your company which will help your team learn in an engaging way whilst helping you to identify skill gaps.

3. Rewards and incentivise

One of the best ways to increase productivity in the workplace is to take a people-first approach to leadership.

Employee wellbeing is key to motivation, and whether your team members are impacted by personal circumstances or factors in the work environment, it’s important to be proactive in helping them manage stress.

Organisations like Health Assured provide Employee Assistance Programmes, which can help to manage mental health and wellbeing with helplines and counselling programmes, as well as assistance for physical health conditions.

Additionally, having good reward systems in place ensures that your team never feels taken for granted. Whether it’s regular social events throughout the year (which can also be tax deductible), reward programmes that offer high street discounts, or performance-driven bonuses that recognise contribution, these are fantastic measures to help your staff feel valued.

These three tips are designed to take care of your team and ensure that their output is the best it can be.

How do you support productivity at work? Share your tips in the comments below!