Usually, most leaders and business owners focus more on getting clients rather than investing their time and resources in their employees/team. Sometimes, it is not that you fail to get clients, but your team is not productive enough to bring in huge clients’ colossal traffic.
This poor result makes you wonder; how you can make your team more productive without the need for constant micromanaging? Why do some employees effortlessly complete their tasks while others struggle in meeting deadlines?
It’s frustrating when you know you hired the best team, but it is always behind and even more frustrating when you don’t know how to get them up and running smoothly. But, worry not because we are here to help.
The strategies below will help you improve your team’s productivity and enable an efficient business flow. Even better, with these proven strategies, you will need not burn out your employees either. Rest assured, they are best for your team and business as well.
But first;
What Is Team Productivity?
Team productivity is the quantity and quality of work done by a team within a certain period. Moreover, team productivity is reliant on various factors. For starters, it is the skills each employee brings to benefit the business.
Secondly, it is transparency and attainability of goals by the company and team leader to be specific. Furthermore, the work environment, the degree of motivation, and the overall communication within the team also impact productivity.
In teamwork, to be specific, productivity is a measure of quantity while effectiveness is quality. However, it is impossible to be productive if the team spends long working hours and gain no tangible results. High performance is a fundamental part of team productivity.
Nevertheless, take note that productivity is a relative extent that does not necessarily amount to revenue.
So, how do you empower your time for more productivity and efficiency?
Grant Ownership to Your Team Members
In business, there’s the power of ownership. Giving ownership to the employees involves nothing but allowing them to make decisions and answer their work.
When you allow each team member to be accountable for their work, it prompts a sense of responsibility regarding their work. An employee will start to see their work differently whereby their decisions can influence the whole team’s performance.
Subsequently, granting ownership can take various forms like being in charge of a project, supervising the responsibility of a task, etc. this shows that the employer shows confidence and trust in the employee’s capabilities to handle a particular job. The employer builds the team members’ self-esteem, which is the most crucial thing in building the business.
Incorporate a Productivity App
Lately, there’s no need to outsource for experts to boost productivity and teamwork in a business. With technology, life is on a fast lane to becoming simpler every time. Even better, some apps like Clariti could boost productivity in small businesses and start-ups. Still, it brings the team members, projects, and clients under one roof.
Having the right productivity app or tool by your side can enable effective work management and improved collaboration among the team members and even the clients.
With features like email, chat, to-do, documents, and even call, you can take your productivity game to a higher level.
Know the Team’s Strengths and Weaknesses
Every human being has various talents and unknown gifts that can be very productive if put into good use. As a team leader or manager of a business, you should note these gifts and put them in mind when assigning tasks. Having each employee work in an area they can perform best is a significant aspect of driving a productive team.
For instance, if you have a team member who likes to air points out of the box, you can develop creative pitches for potential clients instead of dismissing such a brain. When you work with employees who are using the best of their knowledge, skills, and talents, you will notice their enthusiasm to contribute at the workplace.
Making them use their fortes will contribute to making your business better and productive than ever.
Integrate Team Building Exercises
Team productivity also relies on the level of companionship between the team members. In a workplace where team members get along well, take note of each other’s strengths and weaknesses, rest assured of better performance and productivity. Keeping your employees happy amongst themselves is a significant step towards improving efficiency and productivity.
Nevertheless, bear in mind that it is possible and normal for people working together to dislike each other. This can be due to personal or work-related differences, and worse, it can lead to extreme adverse reactions.
Therefore, to overcome the hostility between the team members, consider incorporating some team-building retreats and exercises. Despite being majorly for fun and breaking away from busy schedules, team building will help mend differences and wash away any animosity between employees.
Decent Work Environment
The work setting and infrastructure are vital contributors in refining team efficiency and productivity. According to a recent study, the physical work environment immensely affects how employees feel, think, and operate.
With this in mind, many businesses are now focussing on redesigning their office interiors to make them more user-friendly and welcoming. This involves bright lighting, comfy furniture and arrangement, and even a touch of nature like plants and flowers.
However, a good work environment goes beyond the physical setting. Having an environment with a dictating and abusive boss, office politics, and arrogant employees will significantly impact the team’s productivity.
Offer Incentives
Offering employees a reason to work will boost their psych in performing best, which is a financial reason. Rather than having the usual and plain ‘pat on the back from their bosses, employees desire a better appreciation, which will make their lives easier. Therefore, many employers have come up with a way of implementing incentive programs to motivate their employees. Besides, a reward is always a reason to smile!
Moreover, a study recently showed that 85% of the employees became more motivated to handle their roles best after getting an incentive. Take note that these incentives are not always in cash form but can also be free vouchers, paid holiday, additional time off, lunch-outs, etc.
Give Them Space
Nothing is as choking a boss who is always on the neck of every employee’s move. When you give your employees space to do things ‘their way,’ they will always do their best. Besides, cutting out the breathing space by constant micromanaging from the bosses tends to make the employees lose interest.
As a leader, boss, manager, you can overcome this ‘getting in the way’ habit by putting together an excellent team. First of all, make sure you explain their job responsibilities and your expectations to them clearly. After that, stay out of their way and allow them to work on their own. However, don’t be too far from their easy reach but be approachable for anyone who has an issue and needs further clarification.
Conversely, place a tremendous amount of trust in your team and let them know your confidence in them to perform best. This will help boost their esteem and remove any fear of working to achieve set goals for high productivity.
Give Credit Where It’s due
Even though some employees would desire a bigger and better way to boost productivity, others will be more than okay to receive a simple acknowledgment for their efforts. You can do almost nothing to stimulate productivity if an employee feels that their contribution is not of much value.
Even better, as a boss, you should go ahead and appreciate the in front of the whole team. Besides, you can have name tags up for competition for the best performing employees. Such an act will inspire others to do their best and turn for their share of the credit. This encourages a healthy work culture in a business which will be a plus in improving team productivity.
Lead by Example
Being a great leader does not mean sitting duck and giving orders and supervising; instead, setting an example for the employees to follow. You should not just be a leader or the team but a member of the team as well.
It would be best if you had a few roles to handle yourself instead of assigning them to others. Ensure you do the work best, get down and your hands dirty, and your employees will have nothing but respect for your hard work. Besides, when you become a part of the team, you will stand a better chance of understanding the challenges they go through in their daily roles. That way, coming up with a solution will not be a complex task.
Lastly, remember that there is no single formula to boost your team’s productivity and efficiency, relatively small and constant methods for a firm foundation of a productive environment. Providing your employees with constant support, feedback, and encouragement will primarily result in a significant rise in productivity.
