Productivity is a popular topic among leaders. Whether you’re discussing how you’re becoming more productive or what’s holding you back, the goal is the same: increased productivity.
There is no way to automatically boost team productivity; it requires a lot of work, effort, trial and error. There are seemingly endless articles on “productivity hacks” and other quick fixes, but when tested, they rarely hold up.
This blog post discusses ten realistic and effective ways of increasing workplace productivity. Plus, student can also seek help from online Assignment Writer UK to write a successful assignment for their management course.
What is team productivity?
Productivity is a term that describes how much an individual or team produces as output. Individuals typically define it as how much they can generate or accomplish in a single day. Team productivity refers to how many projects or assigned tasks team members complete at the company level. In a queue-based role, such as support, it can also refer to how many conversations or tickets are handled per day.
For many companies, an employee’s productivity is directly proportional to their worth. If an employee is highly productive and consistently contribute to the overall company mission, they will advance in their careers faster than those who do not. Being productive is therefore beneficial to both the employee and the company.
Now see how managers can motivate teams in the following section.
How to improve team productivity at work
Increasing productivity is not like juicing an orange. It’s not as if the harder you squeeze, the more juice you get. Squeezing too hard will eventually result in juice depletion.
Instead, increasing productivity is more about empowering your team. Team members who are empowered and confident outperform those who are not. Here are 10 ways to empower and increase team productivity.
1. Reward quality, not quantity
Recognition is extremely important in the workplace. Any good team leader or manager recognises their team members’ hard work and effort. This recognition can take place at the team level, in stand-ups or meetings, or at the corporate level during all-hands or annual events.
2. Monitor progress
Keep track of the projects your team is working on and their progress towards completion. You can report on this tracking in a productivity tool like Trello or Asana, but you can also discuss it in daily stand-ups or team meetings. Asking people to share their contributions with the group can help to foster ownership and accountability for tasks.
Set deadlines and track your progress towards them. Ask team members to create smaller, more manageable steps towards the larger goal, and then ensure that they report on their progress as you approach your target completion date.
3. Hold standing meetings
This advice may seem counterintuitive, how can you be productive if your calendar is jam-packed with meetings? Standing meetings provide an excellent opportunity for your team members to connect and share what they are currently working on.
4. Create a healthy working environment
It is rare for someone to perform at their peak under constant stress. If your team members are constantly stressed or on the verge of burnout, they will not perform well or productively.
Make sure your team members understand that taking breaks is acceptable, and foster a balanced team or company culture. While it is important to check in on projects and ensure that they are still on track, it is also critical to check in on how your team members are doing personally.
5. Ensure appropriate communication
Nothing gets done in business unless people communicate effectively. The more your team feels comfortable discussing their work and receiving support from their teammates, the better. Moreover, if you a business student and need supports such as need Operations Assignment Help then you can get help from external resources easily.
6. Assess your team’s strengths and weaknesses
While there is always room for improvement, one of the most effective ways to move forward is to coach your team’s strengths. Spend time talking with the members of your team about what they enjoy working on and what they believe are their most significant areas for improvement.
7. Be authentic and vulnerable
Create a trusting and honest environment among your team members so that they feel comfortable discussing what is going on for them. Begin at the top by being honest and open about where you have opportunities and where you may face challenges. Being publicly vulnerable with your team demonstrates that admitting you don’t know or need help is acceptable.
8. Set a north star
Collaboration is one of the defining characteristics of a good team. But how can you work together if you don’t know where you’re going? Imagine a three-legged race in which both participants attempt to run in opposite directions; they would not get very far!
The same is true for your team if they lack a unified goal or metric to strive for. Before you try to increase your productivity, identify the major factors that will influence your customers’ experiences. From there, break down the big-ticket items into attainable goals and metrics.
9. Prioritise
It’s easy to fall down a rabbit hole and become stuck there. Anyone with a Twitter account and a smartphone knows this. However, the power of productivity lies in what you do once you realise you’re stuck.
One of the most effective ways to boost team productivity is to clearly prioritise your own goals and assist your team members in doing the same. Once you’ve identified your priorities and begun working towards them as a team, check in on a regular basis to see if they need to shift or grow in accordance with your team’s abilities and your company’s objectives.
10. Use appropriate tools and technology
Team productivity is firmly dependent on how well team members collaborate. If you don’t have the necessary tools or practices in place to support that productivity, it will never be as explosive as it could be.
Take it slow with productivity!
When trying to increase your team’s productivity, less is more. If you try to increase your team’s output too quickly, you risk burning them out. If you are too uninterested in your projects, your team may lose enthusiasm for them, and productivity may suffer.
Take your efforts to increase productivity gradually and with control. Remember that the more engaged everyone is in decision-making and action, the more productive they will be.
