6 Ways to Increase Employee Productivity and Make Them Love You

6 Ways to Increase Employee Productivity and Make Them Love You

Nope - not a contradiction!

Have you ever thought about how you could motivate your employees to be more productive? Would you rule with an iron fist or become their best friend? Finding the right balance isn’t easy, but with these 6 tips you’ll be able to foster a workplace atmosphere that will bring out the best in your staff. They’ll actually want to work harder.

1. Be the example, not the exception

Nothing can destroy employee confidence more than seeing senior leaders act in a way they don’t respect, or not follow the rules when others are expected to. Senior management should treat others the way they want to be treated, and act the way they want their staff to act. A hard-working leader breeds hard-working personnel. Be involved in the daily assignments and be transparent. When employees feel like they are in the “inner circle,” they will be more willing to give it their all. Discussing your long-term goals and plans for the company allows employees to feel more invested in the future of the company. Consider their suggestions and consider them partners in business, because without your employees, there is no business.

2. Focus on the positive, and then make constructive suggestions

Everyone makes mistakes. We are only human. Sometimes we need to give feedback that may not be positive. After all, that’s part of being management. We need to keep in mind, however, that for the most part, there are more successes than failures. Focus on your team members’ successes daily, even if it’s something small. When it comes time to give feedback to improve quality of work, or to correct a mistake, start off with a compliment. This makes your employees feel like you are fighting on the same side, and will encourage them to want to improve based on the fact that you respect them and they respect you. Respect and recognition is a powerful motivator, many times more so than money.

3. Allow brain breaks

Even though it is important to monitor employee productivity and usage of time, most employees are not automatons. Not taking a break to recharge your batteries and get your blood flowing is detrimental to productivity. Provide an area to allow employees to take a break, and even encourage them to take a short stroll outside for fresh air. Don’t always focus on the quantity of work, but rather the quality.

4. Cut back on meetings

So many employees have left lengthy meetings thinking, “That really could have just been an email.” This not only drains employees, but also wastes time in which they could be doing something more important. Reserve meetings for big game changers, and situations where you need your team to brainstorm together.

5. Design economic incentives at all levels

Everyone in an organization has an important function in the company, from the sales manager to the office assistant. Provide goals and incentives for each level of employee, not just the upper level management. Celebrate their accomplishments publicly and reward them, even with something as simple as a $20 gift card. This will make all employees feel important and special, and will help guide them to be their best in whichever role they play. In the end, the money spent in rewards will be a fraction of the cost compared to the additional effort you will receive.

6. Provide adequate training and support.

This is incredibly important. Far too often, employees slack off simply because they were not trained adequately and have nowhere to go for support or additional training without fear of looking incompetent. Many times companies spend money and effort on leadership training for their upper managers, but neglect lower managers and employees. Provide training days, team building, and “work hacks” for all levels of employees to ensure high levels of proficiency. Provide an easy system for support, which will allow the employee to grow and learn without feeling criticized or inept. Utilize technology and apps to create easy ways to see tasks, ask questions regarding those tasks, and to collaborate on projects.

More productivity is not about having stricter rules, or implementing harsh punishments for failure. Ultimately, most employees want to be a part of a team they’re committed to, not just another cog in the wheel. Before long you will see the abundant returns on this modest investment in your employees.

 

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