Workplace productivity is a constantly discussed topic; businesses and employees are always looking for ways to increase their output and boost overall efficiency.
In our latest podcast episode, See, Do, Get: Boosting Efficiency in the Workplace, we discussed productivity and efficiency with Kory Kogon, vice president of content development at FranklinCovey.
In this article, we’ll examine productivity more extensively in relation to work. We’ll cover its basics, the challenges remote workers face, and some advice on how to increase productivity in the workplace.
Understanding Workplace Productivity
Before we get too deep, first we need to understand productivity in the workplace. A good way to start is by defining productivity in the workplace and looking at how it can be measured.
In simple terms, workplace productivity is a measure of how effectively employees are working together to achieve goals and produce goals within a specific time frame. You can roughly calculate it by dividing the value of output by the time or cost to create that output.
That said, employee productivity is more complicated than a simple equation. Before you can even think about calculating that, you have to measure productivity.
Productivity can be measured in a variety of ways. Some measure output as a whole, while others think output quality is more important. Other measures include efficiency and job satisfaction. Many try to use all of these to get a more holistic measure of productivity.
That’s a good starting point, but you also need to consider the factors that influence productivity. Things like company culture, work environment, resources, and individual motivation all influence productivity.
For example, a culture of innovation often rewards and incentivizes productivity, in the end raising it. Meanwhile, a culture that is toxic can demotivate people and decrease productivity across the workplace.
It’s important to keep all of this in mind while trying to increase productivity. You should be aware of what productivity is, how it’s measured, and what influences it so you can more effectively boost productivity in your workplace.
Remote Employee Productivity
It’s important to note that remote employees face unique challenges when it comes to workplace productivity. This might seem obvious to many, but it’s essential to highlight the challenges they face since they differ from in-person employees.
A clear example of a unique challenge faced by remote workers is distractions. Work from home employees are typically in their homes, surrounded by their pets, families, hobbies, and household tasks.
Being in their homes can also blur the lines between work life and personal life. When your home is your workplace, it can feel like you’re always “on” and can never fully log off. You don’t have the same separation as someone who leaves the office and can fully “turn off.”
Another challenge they face is communication and technology. They rely on technology to communicate and work. This makes communication more difficult and less reliable, plus there are the inevitable tech hiccups like internet outages and applications being down.
That said, this isn’t meant to be a condemnation of remote work. Remote workers are capable of just as much as their in-person counterparts. However, they face unique challenges in regards to productivity and may require alternative solutions to address those challenges.
How to Increase Productivity in the Workplace
With all that out of the way, it’s time to look at how to boost productivity in the workplace. It’s easy to get overwhelmed, but the key is to be proactive. Kogon noted this during the podcast, saying:
People are so overwhelmed today. Over half of people will not do anything about their well-being until after they’re already burnt out or stressed out. And so again, this is about proactivity… How can I be proactive to do better, to be able to be my best self?
So, let’s take a look at some ways to be proactive and strategies you can use to improve productivity at work.
Teach Time Management Skills
When it comes to workplace productivity tips, time management skills are at the top. That said, it’s not quite as simple as maximizing your schedule to avoid downtime. Breaks and taking time for your own well-being are also important to productivity, as Kogan noted when she said:
We talk a lot about this and how I need to show up as a whole, healthy and breathing person, stopping after a project and taking a walk. The neuroscience supports pausing—taking a break and reducing stress in this time in the world—but with everything going on, just how do I do that? How do I take time to relax?
Teaching time management skills is a great way to boost productivity, but it’s also important to remember that self-care and breaks are factored into time management as well.
Boost Employee Motivation
Another good strategy is to boost employee motivation. When employees are motivated, they are more eager to work and give their best effort—resulting in increased workplace productivity overall.
Look for ways to engage teams. Whether they’re remote or in-person, you need to look for ways to get them engaged and excited for work. Things like clear goals, rewards and recognition, offering learning opportunities, and promoting work-life balance can all increase motivation.
Avoid Micromanagement
This is less a tip and more something to avoid, but micromanagement in the workplace is an enemy of productivity. Just put yourself in an employee’s shoes:
You’re working on a project, giving it your best effort. Your manager comes in and watches over your shoulder, constantly making critiques and telling you how it should be done instead of trusting you and your abilities. How are you going to feel?
There’s a good chance you’ll start to get frustrated, annoyed, and be ready to just get the project over with so you can move on. So don’t micromanage; trust your employees and their ability to do great work.
Set Realistic Expectations
If you want to enhance workplace productivity, it’s important that you set realistic expectations. Many think that setting incredibly high expectations motivates employees. However, it often has the opposite effect.
When expectations are unreasonable, employees feel they can’t reach them and give up on the idea of achieving them. It can discourage employees from even attempting to meet those expectations.
On the other hand, employees are more likely to strive to achieve goals when they’re within reach. If they feel it’s possible, they’ll do their best to make it happen. The point is to set realistic expectations and goals.
Prioritize Employee Wellness
As mentioned earlier, employee wellness is a key component of workplace productivity. People perform their best when they are happy, healthy, and have a good work-life balance. Prioritizing wellness is a great way to boost productivity.
That said, most people understand that these days. The real problem is finding the time and opportunity to prioritize wellness. This is something Kogan mentioned, saying:
How do I get enough sleep? How do I make sure? If you could just do one of those things—eat, sleep, move, relax, or connect with other people (which is also really important to well-being)–what would you do? Find one of those things and get started and be proactive about it.
One way of dealing with that problem is with wellness programs, such as our Team Wellbeing program. This event is a great way to set aside some time to prioritize your employees’ wellness, boosting productivity at the same time.
Provide Collaborative Activities
Collaboration is another important component of productivity. Employees are most productive when they have strong relationships with coworkers, are comfortable collaborating, and have good group dynamics.
Team building activities are a great way to emphasize collaboration. An event like In It to Win It for example is a fun, exciting, and engaging way to bring your team together and encourage them to collaborate while building bonds through friendly competition.
Remove Distractions
Lastly, distractions. It should come as no surprise that distractions are a common obstacle to office productivity. Whether you’re in the office or working from home, it’s easy to get distracted from your work and lose focus.
The simplest way around that is to remove distractions. Things like phones and social media should be limited, such as encouraging employees to use them during breaks so they won’t feel the need to during work hours.
There are also less obvious distractions, like fluorescent lights and uncomfortable office furniture. The workspace should be comfortable, so take note of things like lighting, temperature, furniture, and more.
Improve Productivity at Work with TeamBonding
Improving workplace productivity is a constant pursuit, one many struggle with. However, it’s possible to boost productivity with the right approach—such as avoiding micromanagement, removing distractions, prioritizing wellbeing, and providing collaborative activities.
Improve productivity at work with TeamBonding. Our expert facilitators are ready to help you with one of our many events and boost your team’s productivity, so get in touch with us today.
