For a business to succeed in a competitive market, it must have a high level of productivity. You want your employees to get things done. Completing projects on time improves the morale of your workforce and the reputation of your business. Here are some tips for improving productivity in your workplace.
Look to Eliminate Inefficiencies
Even the smoothest operations have room for improvement. Productivity increases along with efficiency. One way to analyze efficiency is to perform a quarterly gemba walk. The gemba walk is a Japanese business practice where the leader walks through the workspace and observes the work process from start to finish without interruption. The manager notes what works and what does not along the way. He or she will then cooperate with the observed team to streamline the process. With each gemba walk, the process is fine-tuned, becoming as efficient as possible.
Remove Distractions
The modern world is full of distractions. An internet connection gives access to essential information as well as to entertainment and social media. The smartphones that help with fast communication can also be thieves of time with gigabytes of apps and games. You may want to have your IT department block time-wasting sites. Walking around the workplace and being visible to your employees will also discourage them from wasting time.
Harness Creativity
Some businesses have success in allowing their employees time each day to devote to independent projects or study. While this seems like it could waste time, it often leads to innovation. Independent study can help make unexpected connections that bring new ideas. As a manager or business owner, you have to be certain that this practice does not interrupt the regular work that needs to get done by employees. It is up to you to designate an appropriate amount of time.
Encourage Reasonable Breaks
For both personal well-being and productivity, employees should be encouraged to take reasonable breaks. Most people can focus on a given task for a limited amount of time. The Pomodoro technique divides work in 30-minute segments. Each segment is 25 minutes of work followed by a five-minute break. This gives workers time to reset and to refocus on the task at hand. It also encourages employees to refrain from sitting too long. They might use the five minutes to take a brisk walk around the office or to simply stand and stretch. The small break sets them up for another 25 minutes of focused attention.
Meaningful productivity gives employees a sense of purpose. There is a deep satisfaction that comes with meeting or surpassing a goal. By paying attention to processes and making space for creativity, your workplace can become a model for productivity.
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