In simple terms, productivity means getting the most out of something or someone, for the most cost-effective investment. To optimize your staff productivity, you need to look at all the influencing factors that can affect their performance, and find ways to help them complete tasks more efficiently and be motivated to do their best. There are many factors that can influence productivity, but they broadly fall into one of two main categories. You may improve productivity to a degree by addressing one of these categories, but you’ll achieve much better results if you examine both categories.
The right tools for the job
Not having the best equipment affects productivity in two ways. Time and money are wasted by tasks taking longer, and there is a risk of higher inaccuracies or increased wastage. There is also the demoralizing effect on the staff who have to use these systems, which can contribute to lower staff morale and reduced motivation. Therefore, your first step in improving productivity should be to examine all your equipment and systems. Old, outdated operational software and hardware is a common culprit because if it’s still working, you might not realize the gains you could make by replacing it. Say for example that you have a team of electronics engineers who design circuit boards for consumer goods. Are they still using design software that hasn’t been updated or replaced for several years? Consider how much more accurately and productively they could work if they were using services such as Altium to design their PCBs, or had more efficient processors in their computers. Seeking experts in the whatever field of industry you work in will see improvements in the overall efficiency of your business model, and this will encompass staff productivity, too.
Staff morale
The happier your staff are, the harder they will work, and the more productive they will be. There are many factors that can influence the way a member of staff feels about their role, and you need to be aware of them and how you can best manage them. Creating a welcoming, comfortable working environment, treating staff fairly both within your legal obligations and in the workplace itself, and ensuring they have the skills and training they need for their role are all essential. You also need to look to your own skills as a boss. Do you make time for your staff, have good communication channels, and show an interest in what they do? People need to feel valued and respected for the work they do if they are to give it their all and not being recognized for their contribution or never receiving any kind of praise can be significantly demotivating for most people. Taking this issue seriously and improving your own communication and staff management skills will help enormously. There are any number of valuable resources such as books, websites, and courses that you can use to assess your skills and work on improving them, and any investment you make in enhancing your own skills will be recouped in improved productivity.
Many volumes have been written on productivity and how to optimize it in business. It can be overwhelming to start with such an abundance of information, so ease yourself into the process gently by following these basic steps first.
