Low productivity can be fatal for any business. After all, if you’re not working productively, you’re not making money. Regardless of the causes, there’s no denying that low productivity can have dire consequences for your company. Luckily, there are some effective solutions that you can use to help boost productivity at your organization. Here are four of them.
Give Employees the Right Tools and Apps
If your employees are using outdated or inefficient tools and apps, it’s going to impact their productivity. So make sure that they have access to the best and most up-to-date tools and apps for their job, whether it’s code review tools that speed up software development or automated apps that make writing reports faster. This can make a big difference in terms of their output. However, you may want to look for managed it companies to find someone who can assist you and your business if, for example, you feel that you don’t have the expertise, time, resources, or knowledge to manage and integrate the relevant technology into your business operations and processes.
Here’s how to find the right tools and apps:
- Take inventory of the tools and apps your employees are currently using.
- Research alternatives and see if there are any that would be a better fit.
- Implement the new tools and provide training as needed.
After you have been using certain technology for a while, you may wish to perform a tech stack audit your team uses in order to see what is working, and where changes and adjustments could be made in order to further improve staff productivity and performance.
Similarly, if your company operates primarily out of a warehouse (or other industrial setting) rather than an office, you will not only need to invest in the right warehouse and inventory management software but the correct physical tools and equipment too. This could mean well-organized shelving systems and a mobile work platform or lift to reach them, for example. Together, the correct software and physical tools, combined with comprehensive employee training on how to use them, as well as correct integration into the business, can further boost the effectiveness and productivity of your workplace.
Encourage Breaks
It may seem counterintuitive, but encouraging employees to take breaks can actually help improve their productivity.
When people are working for long periods without a break, they tend to get tired and their focus starts to wane. Breaks give them a chance to rest and rejuvenate so they can come back to their work with fresh energy.
There are a few ways to encourage breaks:
- Set up a dedicated break area in the office where employees can relax and unwind.
- Encourage employees to take walking breaks throughout the day.
- Give employees flexible time so they can take breaks when they need to.
Implement Flexible Working Arrangements
Flexible working arrangements can be a great way to boost productivity since they allow employees to work in a way that suits their needs and preferences.
Whether that means working remotely part of the time, working different hours, or even using flexible scheduling to accommodate personal commitments, giving employees flexibility can help them be more productive at work.
Some ways to implement flexible working arrangements include creating a remote work policy that outlines the conditions and expectations and encouraging self-scheduling, where employees choose when they want to take breaks, come in late, or leave early.
Encourage Collaboration
Working in isolation can lead to lower productivity, since employees may not have anyone to bounce ideas off of or collaborate with. Encouraging collaboration can help employees be more productive since they can rely on each other for support and feedback.
There are a few ways to encourage collaboration:
- Set up team projects that allow employees to work together on a shared goal.
- Host regular team meetings where everyone can share ideas and provide feedback.
- Encourage collaboration outside of the workplace by using tools like Slack or other online chat platforms.
Low productivity can be a big problem for businesses, but some solutions can help. Give employees the right tools and apps, encourage breaks, implement flexible working arrangements, and encourage collaboration to boost productivity.
