10 Simple Ways to Improve Employee Productivity

For many employees, this shift to hybrid work models has impacted productivity considerably. In addition, fears around health and job security are leading to increased anxiety and low employee morale. Workers require a great deal of planning and patience to adjust to the new way of working.

If these employee concerns aren’t addressed in a timely manner, then the after-effects of low employee morale will eventually lead to poor productivity and work performance. Lack of motivation will further lead to a significant drop in productivity, diminishing an organization's ability to function smoothly, while impacting profitability, customer satisfaction and business relationships.

This new normal has forced many organizations across the world to look for ways to enhance work efficiency and employee productivity. To make this easier, we have compiled a list of ten best practices that will help you improve employee satisfaction and ensure productivity in the workplace.

1. Limit unproductive meetings

One way to raise employee satisfaction is by limiting long, drawn-out and time-consuming meetings. By only scheduling meetings on subjects that require attendance, such as company strategy or significant announcements, you’ll save workers’ time that can be better utilized for performing other operational tasks.

However, keep in mind that meetings can deepen ties and enhance communication among teams, so try not to remove meetings that are serving these purposes.

2. Use time-tracking software

Time-tracking software helps monitor the productivity of each employee and each team. It assists team members in planning their day and knowing how long they take to complete each task. Further, it ensures that all work activities are coordinated.

Employee (in-house/remote) time schedules and attendance data can be managed from any location using employee time tracking software. This software is ideal for keeping an accurate record of employee time and attendance as it allows remote workers to set their own schedules and keep track of their time while working from anywhere in the world. Additionally, it is used to automate routine work processes so that work is carried out efficiently and employees can remain focused on business goals, ultimately leading to a productivity boost.

As an employer, real-time data helps you spot trends that are impairing the work process and come up with business solutions.

3. Conduct employee performance reviews

One of the simplest ways to increase employee productivity is to hold employees accountable for their work. One-to-one reviews, conducted at regular intervals, are the perfect opportunity to discuss past performance, evaluate strengths and set goals for the future. They can help you to evaluate your employees' performance at a higher level.

4. Encourage regular breaks

Sitting in one place and working like a robot can make your employees fatigued and can cause burnout. Encourage your employees to take regular breaks in order to recharge and approach work with more energy and fresh eyes.

5. Minimize distractions

Distractions can disrupt anyone’s productivity and can come in a variety of forms. We all understand that once focus is broken, it can take a lot of time to restore it. There are certain distractions that are easily controllable, such as excessive lighting or other installations that pull people away from their work.

Encourage your staff to respect one another's heads-down time by refraining from interfering with each other. Also, be upfront about having "blackout" periods as a team, where you all turn off your devices' notifications.

6. Encourage feedbacks

Encourage an environment where employees feel comfortable sharing their ideas and insights about how to be productive at the workplace, whether it's recommending a new analytical tool or changing a procedure to complete a task more efficiently.

Additionally, by being transparent, you'll be able to identify any potential morale threats and address them before they become a problem. You may come up with a ton of fresh suggestions for how to boost productivity in real-world ways.

7. Recognize and reward your employees

Start recognizing your employees when they do an excellent job or put in extra effort to finish a project. This should boost your employees’ morale and make them want to work even harder. Further, motivating and rewarding your team will cultivate a sense of fulfillment and achievement and may inspire others to be more productive.

8. Provide comprehensive training

Better-trained employees are always more productive. After completing a comprehensive training program, employees will understand their job better and will feel more confident, which will enable them to be more productive.

Training is a one-time investment with big gains, allowing employees to better understand their responsibilities and to feel more valued in the workplace.

9. Grant flexible schedules

Consider making your employee scheduling more flexible. For instance, rather than requiring that everyone work a rigid 9–5 schedule, give them the freedom to choose other hours, such as working 8–2 and then completing extra work from 6–8.

There are several advantages to this kind of arrangement. First, people are biologically predisposed to be more productive at certain times of the day, so it makes sense to let employees work when they are most productive. Secondly, this sort of arrangement contributes to work/life balance, allowing the employee to carry out errands and obligations when needed, or coordinate their schedule with their spouse’s working hours.

10. Delegate work effectively

Don’t measure employee productivity based solely on who works the longest hours or completes the most tasks. Instead, try to balance task assignments based on the strengths and weaknesses of your team members, with the goal of ensuring tasks are carried out as smoothly and effectively as feasible.

As an employer, your responsibility should be to maximize your own time by concentrating on the duties and projects that are most crucial. Your goal should be to balance those tasks so they are carried out as easily and efficiently as possible.

Other jobs can and should be assigned to those who are most qualified to complete them; be sure to know who excels at customer communications, who has expertise in specific technical tasks, and who can be trusted to take on last-minute, urgent work.

Final thoughts

Any company that wishes to boost productivity needs content and engaged personnel. Noticing and rewarding what your employees do on an individual level can boost personal fulfillment and productivity in the workplace.