7 Under-Utilized Ways to Boost Workplace Productivity
Managers and business owners are constantly searching for ways to make their employees more productive. While there are many ways to increase employee productivity, from massive cultural restructuring to small daily habits, at the end of the day it all comes down to taking care of your employees so they’re free to focus on their work.
Here are a few ways that you can ensure you get the most out of your people.
Ergonomics
It turns out that it’s actually really bad for you to sit cramped at a desk all day straining to look at a screen. Recent trends in ergonomics have resulted in the adoption of things like standing desks, ergonomic keyboards and chairs and a dual monitor stand for your desk.
By adjusting the position of your body, your desk and the things on your desk, you can make sure your employees stay healthier and are better able to perform their work.
Let the outside in
Being cooped up indoors is also pretty bad for our health, but the effects of this can be mitigated by letting in natural light and placing some indoor plants around the office.
Sunlight helps our body produce serotonin and melatonin, which we need to enhance our moods and sleep at night. By letting light into your office space, your employees will be happier and more well rested.
Certain types of indoor plants remove toxins from the air which helps keep your employees happy. They’re also visually appealing and studies have shown that they improve concentration and overall satisfaction.
A personal touch
When an employee is allowed to make their workspace their own, they will become more attached to it and be more likely to stick around. Let your employees decorate their work station with the items they want to surround themselves with. Besides encouraging loyalty, being surrounded by photos or objects they love will improve their moods.
Avoid an afternoon crash
If you were a personal trainer, you wouldn’t tell your clients to prepare for a workout by drinking coffee and soft drinks. Rather, you would tell them to eat protein, complex carbs and fibre in order to get healthy, long lasting energy.
The same principle can apply in your office. Offer healthy snacks such as fruits and vegetables, nuts and whole grains to keep your workforce energised.
Clearly identify responsibilities
One of the easiest and most often overlooked way to make your employees more productive is to simply make it as clear as possible what their role actually is.
Employees should have clear responsibilities and goals outlined in their job description so that they can stay on task and be productive in the role that they were hired to do. You can also provide regular feedback that will help them remain on track.
Tech tools
There are a variety of digital tools that you can use in your workplace in order to allow your employees to do their jobs better and be more efficient with their time. Whether it’s an extensive software system, or a free app that allows teams to chat and plan projects, these tools were developed with modern productivity in mind.
Training and development
Getting your employees to operate with consistent productivity is a good start, but what if you could make your employees work even better? Training and development is important because it’s beneficial to both you and your workforce. You benefit from having employees that are constantly improving at their jobs and your employees benefit from enhancing their skills and worth.
Employees that are motivated and engaged in their jobs are ultimately more effective for your company. Good habits, mental and physical health and a well managed workforce all contribute to the overall success of the entire team.
