How to Increase Your Employees' Productivity

That is especially vital these days because even though employees are now spending more time working than ever before - either at the office or remotely - increased working hours don't always mean increased productivity. In fact, it could mean the opposite due to employee burn-out or lack of motivation. Read on to find out ways to empower your employees and boost their productivity. 

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Understanding and Implementing Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs

Productivity is typically linked to motivation because, without it, employees won't be productive. Motivation comes from human psychology. Understanding and implementing psychologist Maslow's hierarchy of needs could be key to increasing productivity. Maslow's theory is based on five human needs that must be met to reach the so-called 'ultimate goal' - self-actualization. These five needs are physiological, safety, belongingness and love, self-esteem, and self-actualization. They are usually represented as a pyramid starting with physiological needs, such as food and shelter, at its base. His theory is built on the idea that humans must start with the lowest tier and fulfill it before moving on to the next. 

Ideas for implementing this theory based on the workplace's physiological needs could be making sure that employees are paid fairly and regularly. When it comes to safety needs, employers must ensure that the office environment is safe, and employees are offered a pension plan for financial security. For belongingness and love, employees should experience cultural diversity, team collaboration, and work in an equal opportunity workplace. For self-esteem, providing apt feedback and rewarding good performance will satisfy this need, while for self-actualization, the firm could offer personalized training plans and mentoring programs for employees. 

Delegating Tasks 

Increasing employee responsibility through delegating tasks can also lead to improving employee motivation, morale, and productivity. Once a task has been delegated to a qualified employee, a manager should step back and trust that this task will be completed satisfactorily. Avoid micromanaging and hovering as managing less has been shown to lead to surprisingly better results. Giving employees a sense of leadership and responsibility induces feelings that a task is the employee's own, and this ownership leads to higher productivity. 

Using the Right Tools and Technologies

Having the right tools and technologies available can boost employee productivity, whereas the lack of these tools can cause a firm to fall behind. High-quality, modern technologies, such as collaboration tools, communication applications, cloud computing storage systems, and human resource management systems can promote a more efficient workflow. It can also streamline the process of data storage and lead to higher productivity levels. Human Resource specialists at HR Assured recommend using smart, mobile-friendly technologies to boost productivity in the workplace. It is also important to ensure that the basic tools are available in the office, such as printers, scanners, and computers if required. Investing in tablets for employees could also be a low-cost solution to streamline different work processes. 

Providing a Healthy Work-life Balance

Sometimes having employees spend less time working can lead to higher productivity levels because promoting and providing a healthy work-life balance will motivate employees to do more. Flexible work schedules, such as remote working, have proven to lead to higher productivity levels and can also cut costs. Healthy vacation policies also show that the business values employees and their wellbeing, leading to higher productivity. 

Prioritizing Employee Happiness 

Practicing positive reinforcement through encouraging, motivating, and rewarding employees can also promote productivity. Employers must promote employee self-care by encouraging employees to take advantage of Health insurance policies and other self-care practices. Managers must always tell employees when they are doing a good job (and perhaps offer them personal incentives for going out of their way) and offer constructive criticism if they aren't. 

Workplace stresses can be minimized through adequate workplace stress management. Effective stress management is offered through stress relief and time management courses and encourages employees to talk about problems, whether personal or professional. Gratifying employees by showing them how much the workplace values and respects them, will improve employee happiness and productivity. Other ways to prioritize employee happiness include offering perks, such as gym memberships, nap rooms, complimentary services, among others. 

Practicing Clear Communication

One of the most important ways to increase productivity is to make sure there is an effective two-way communication flow between managers and employees. It sets a precedent for all forms of communication in the workplace. Setting clear expectations and responsibilities helps promote a work culture of positive communication. A workplace with a positive communication culture is more productive than one without; there is a clear discussion of future possibilities and solutions, so everyone knows what they are supposed to do. Every workplace should implement a communication strategy best for their business where everything is clear, and everyone in the firm is involved. Another easy way to practice clear communication is through teamwork activities. 

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Running a successful business these days requires a high level of productivity on your employees' end. Productive employees are motivated employees. Therefore, making small changes, such as the ones mentioned above, will go a long way in motivating your staff. For example, task delegation, having the right tools and technologies, and promoting a healthy work-life balance are easy ways to boost your employees' motivation and productivity. In return, this will help your business achieve success, both in the short and long runs.

David Pac

Update 29 October 2020