When it comes to productivity at work, we all tend to overrate ourselves. Usually, we think we’re a lot better than we are.
As many business owners or CEOs have the habit of saying – if I don’t do it, nobody will. Or better yet – no one is going to do it as well as I am.
If you can admit to yourself that you had these thoughts at least once – you can be sure, something isn’t working as it should be in your company. Something, or someone.
At least that’s the reason to question yourself as a leader, and your staff as a working force.
That force that’s keeping your business alive and well.
Are you taking care of them? Are you interested in knowing your employees?
Are you taking care of yourself?
Imagine having a workplace where everyone is happy and giving their best. A place where innovation comes naturally and productivity is not just expected, but encouraged. Sounds pretty good right?
It can be if you follow our tips to create an engaging and productive workplace.
A productive and engaging workplace can increase the productivity of your employees, reduce stress, decrease absenteeism, improve employee retention, and more — not to mention make your life as a manager easier.
Improving employee engagement doesn’t require you to implement plenty of changes — but it does require you to investigate issues of why employees aren’t engaged with their jobs in the first place.
To get better results and happier staff, here are the ten most important tips to achieve that:
1. Recruit carefully
The first step in developing a good working environment is to hire the right people.
Hiring can be a tricky process, but you must find employees who fit your company culture and have the necessary skills for their job.
It’s better to take some time and do it right than to hire fast and have to manage more issues after.
Look for people who are passionate about their work. Passionate employees tend to be loyal and more productive than employees who are simply doing a job or taking orders from a manager.
In the hiring process, pay attention to candidates’ soft skills and personalities, don’t just measure their knowledge and technical skills. It’ll mean a lot later when it comes to working with them and incorporating them into your team.
2. Set your company culture
The culture you create in your company is one of the most important factors for success and your employees’ productivity and satisfaction. It’s not a coincidence that Google, Facebook, and other successful companies have such a great culture.
Company culture is a set of values and behaviors that define how employees interact with each other, customers, and other stakeholders. It’s the atmosphere in which people work, their attitude towards their job, their values, and their beliefs.
It’s important to decide what your company culture would be and stick to it. Not just making it a cool section in your job posts, but making it a reality in which your employees work and live.
Having staff that is coming to work with a smile on their faces is proof you’ll need to know your company’s culture is a win-win situation.
3. Invest in training and education of employees
The better educated and trained your employees are, the higher their productivity will be. It’s a simple fact. But in today’s business world, it’s more important than ever to make sure your employees are up to date on the latest trends and technologies.
Also, it shows your employees that you’re interested in them and their improvement, and it can only uplift their spirit and will to be a good workers for you.
4. Acknowledge the effort
It’s important to show your employees that you recognize and appreciate their hard work. Doing so will not only make them feel good, but it can also motivate them to continue working hard and being productive.
There’re many different ways you can show your employees that you appreciate their efforts like giving them a raise or bonus, giving them extra paid time off, publicly acknowledging their achievements, write them a personal thank-you note.
Whatever you do, make sure you’re sincere and genuine in your appreciation. Your employees will be able to tell if you’re just going through it all, so take the time to show that you care.
5. Use the right tools – online employee management software
If you make the effort to get a variety of tools for easier and faster work accessible to your employees, it’ll be rewarded not only with productivity but with happier and more satisfied staff.
One of the tools you can start using, regardless if you run a remote or in-office business, is online employee management software.
With online employee management software, you can track employees’ productivity, schedule tasks, and assignments, and manage holidays and leave. This software can also be used to store employees’ records and documents, making it a valuable asset for any business.
Also, it can benefit the employees by having the ability to get access to 24\7 self-service.
6. Smooth transfer of files
Dealing with documents and files all day can be very exhausting. Especially if it’s followed by a poor organization. It’s recommended to use the data and space on your computer wisely, and always use the compressed file whenever it’s possible.
There are simple ways to compress PDF files that will greatly affect the efficiency of your staff and help them with daily assignments.
If you’re looking to help your employees and raise their productivity you should consider using cloud storage services or file transfer protocols.
It’s not only time and space-saving but it helps your staff to stay focused on their work and therefore do more in less time.
7. No micromanagement
If you’re the kind of manager who likes to know every last detail about what your employees are doing, you might be guilty of micromanaging.
Micromanaging is when a manager is extremely involved in the work of their employees. This can lead to employees feeling resentful and can make them less interested to take initiative or be creative in their work.
So, if you’re a micromanager, it’s time to step back and give your employees some freedom. Let them take ownership of their work and trust that they will do a good job. It’s not easy but you might be surprised by the results!
8. Get to know your staff-show you care
In a daily struggle, it can be easy to forget the people who work for you. But your staff is the backbone of your company, and showing them that you care can go a long way. One great way to do this is to get to know them on a personal level.
You can do this by taking the time to learn about their interests, family, and hobbies. Taking an interest in your staff will show them that you care about them as people, not just employees. It will also create a more positive and productive work environment.
But it’s important to be genuine, and show real interest in them. Otherwise, it’ll only demotivate your employees, because nobody respects fraud.
9. Health care benefits for employees
Healthcare benefits are a great way to show that your company is worth the time. By offering health care benefits, you can show your employees that you care about their
wellbeing and that you’re committed to helping them stay healthy.
You can also offer employees health savings accounts, which can help them save money on medical expenses.
No matter what health care benefits you choose to offer, your employees will appreciate knowing that you’re not looking at them just as a money-making machine, but as a human.
They’ll feel safe and taken care of, and therefore more productive and more interested in the company that’s looking after them.
10. Take care of the workspace
And last, but not least, the working environment. For the best results in productivity, it’s important to take care of the workspace. That means having clean, decluttered space, lots of light and neutral or bright colors, and workable equipment. Providing adequate storage for documents and supplies is also essential for keeping the workspace organized.
Some people work better with music in the background, but some don’t like it. You can try to figure out what your employees like, and then make the workspace more adjusted to them, if possible.
These are all some pretty simple but important stuff for your staff and their productivity. The goal is to make them feel as good and as comfortable as can be. And they’ll pay you back with their work and enthusiasm.
Considering all the benefits you can get, if you just try and pay more attention to your employees, it seems like a reasonable thing. You’ll be more appreciated as a leader, and your team or your staff will do their best to justify all the perks you’ve given to them. And your company’s reputation will grow too.
So, you see, there’s nothing to lose. Start planning your next staff meeting with this in your mind.
