5 Tips for Increasing Employee Productivity

Productivity is something every business strives for, yet it still seems to elude many.

In theory, we all know how to be more productive (just get more work done in less time, right), but in reality, being productive can be incredibly difficult. Distractions might abound, motivation might be low; there may be unresolved issues between coworkers, or the tools needed for the job might be missing.

Whatever your case may be, let’s take a look at five ways you can work on increasing employee productivity.

Provide the Right Tools and Training

Employees are sometimes less productive than they could be because they don’t have access to the tools they actually need. Someone might be working on an outdated laptop that is too slow for their needs, causing plenty of frustration and doubling their time for executing the simplest of tasks.

Someone else might not be as good at using a certain tool or performing a certain task by no fault of their own – perhaps they just never got the proper training.

Write down the tool and training needs for all of your employees (individually and as teams) and see what you can do to help them express and upgrade their knowledge and skills.

Communicate Clearly

A breakdown in communication is one of the most common causes of disruption in the workplace. Your employees might be harboring a whole host of questions they feel uncomfortable to ask because you don’t encourage inquisitiveness and an open-door policy.

Start by making it perfectly clear that there are no superfluous questions. Encourage everyone to ask anything they might need to know about the tasks they are performing.

Also, make it a point to communicate your own messages very clearly, both in writing and in person. The clearer your instructions and expectations, the easier it will be for your employees to execute.

Stop Micromanaging

When your employees feel there is constantly someone breathing down their necks and that their every move is being evaluated, they will simply not be able to be their most productive selves.

Instead of micromanaging and being involved in every step of every task (either personally or through your managers), allow employees plenty of autonomy to execute tasks as they see fit.

Most business owners are afraid this will mean things don’t get done – but quite the opposite is true. Once you stop being hung up on performance metrics and allow your staff to do their best, you’ll be surprised how much better they start performing.

Foster Self-care

Job-related stress has been on the increase for the past 20+ years, and it has been steadily contributing to an increase in sick days and a drop in productivity.

To eliminate as much work-related stress as you can, focus on establishing a company culture that does not breed stress on its own. This won’t solve the stress issue completely, but it will help your employees feel more safe and relaxed, knowing what they can expect in any workplace situation.



• Listen to your employees and offer constructive feedback whenever they come to you with a problem or a challenge they are facing.
• Establish very clear parameters for success – that way, no one will perceive they are under appreciated or that they are working too hard for nothing.
• Offer days off whenever your employees need them, or provide a work-from-home solution when feasible.
  

Shift from Paper to Digital Solutions

Using pen and paper is not only harmful for the environment, but it is also more complicated. What if you don’t have that one piece of paper on you just when you need it?

With Forms on Fire, you will never have to face that issue again. Our solutions enable you to access all of your most important data through a mobile device, on the go, at any time and anywhere. Anything from agreements and expense reports to schedules and proposals will be right there at your fingertips.

The features of our product make it easy to use – you won’t have to go through an entire course just to be able to create your first document. We integrate with all of your favorite apps and allow you to use interfaces you’re already familiar with.

Our mobile forms can even be used offline, so you can access all of your information even when there’s no reliable internet connection available.

In other words – you can stay on top of all of your tasks with a single smart solution, saving you incredible amounts of time and plenty of stress.

To Conclude

Productivity may be a fickle creature, one that you need to foster and encourage. But with these tips, you’ll be able to inspire your employees to become more productive and more satisfied at work.



Don’t forget also to lead by example and emulate the kind of employee you want all of them to be. This will provide a role model they can look up to and strive to become, knowing that it is achievable.