No organisation can keep its staff productive on a continual basis unless it has a clear strategy for success. Here are some of the best strategies for getting what you want.
1. Keep things simple.
While having a productivity strategy is important, it does not have to be extensive. Creating a basic, focused strategy with defined actions and outcomes helps people stay on track and puts them up for success. Create SMART goals with concrete, doable tasks so that everyone is on the same page.
2. Create reminders
Smart calendars and reminder apps so your brain doesn't have to. More crucially, you can integrate them with collaboration platforms like Slack, which allow you to organise by channels, topics, and teams. Set key milestone alerts and messages at the team level, and have individuals set their own tasks inside the same channel for more granular stuff.
3. Conduct a daily goal review (or at least regularly)
Setting goals is one of the most critical aspects of any business strategy. They are, however, meaningless unless they are regularly reviewed and revised. After defining clear goals, ensure that everyone has a mechanism to track progress on a daily basis. If daily makes sense in a given situation, set realistic goals, such as delivering weekly progress summaries or replying within 48 hours.
4. Reduce time-wasting activities
Numerous distractions might divert our focus away from our work, whether at home or at the office. Successful managers understand this and devise strategies to battle the worst of them. Here's how to avoid some frequent productivity killers:
Meetings: Limit the amount of meetings you have and who attends them. If a meeting is really required, it should have a clear, focused agenda, time limitations by topic, and finish as soon as a resolution is reached (yes, we want our 15 minutes back!).
Emails: There are many faster ways to obtain or distribute information than email. Send a short Slack message or direct message, start an impromptu video call, or (gasp) pick up the phone. Connecting directly through real-time technologies is nearly always more efficient.
Coworkers: While you always want to have a good rapport with your coworkers, there is a time and place for personal chats. Allow for group lunches, virtual happy hours, topical chat channels, and other activities that allow people to engage outside of business hours.
Lack of organisation: Disorganization forces people to waste time hunting for what they need (see: 5,000-email inbox). Beyond tidy desktops and labelled folders, managing digital workflows can significantly boost productivity. For example, managing teams with Slack allows you to browse discussions by channel, exchange files inside projects, pin essential documents for faster access, and launch meetings all in one spot.
Social media: According to the “2021 Social Media Trends” survey, people spend over two and a half hours every day on social media platforms. Establish a policy that clearly indicates when it is acceptable to use social media and when it is necessary to focus on work.
We all procrastinate. The easiest approach to avoid it is to establish clear timelines and hold people accountable. Everyone who has a project deadline should have someone follow up with them to ensure that the deadline is reached.
5. Use productivity applications
Technology may be both a boon and a curse. When used correctly, apps can greatly increase corporate efficiency. The following are just a few examples of very popular productivity apps:
6.Motivate your team
Keeping your team members motivated is one of the most difficult (and crucial) business growth methods. The “how” will differ depending on who you ask. As a result, it's critical to have a clear grasp of what's most essential to each person you deal with.
Finding a happy medium between intrinsic and external motivation is critical to hitting the productivity sweet spot. Intrinsic motivation creates self-reflective benefits that cause a person to wish to be successful for no other reason than their own personal satisfaction. Extrinsic motivation, on the other hand, gives external rewards for good conduct and meeting goals, such as additional vacation days or a workplace party.
7. Avoid multitasking.
Many individuals claim to be exceptional multitaskers, but in truth, it's almost always better to focus on one activity at a time. Several studies have found that multitasking might reduce individual productivity by up to 40%. At the very least, ensure that team members have about similar workloads. Delegate responsibilities based on who is best at them or willing to take them on (versus always by role or title). Setting realistic expectations reduces the need to juggle too many things at once or to put in too little effort.
8. Provide a wellness programme.
Wellness includes both physical and mental health, both of which can boost productivity. According to the Harvard Business Review, persons with good mental health are 23% more productive, while physically fit employees are 17% more productive.
Weight-loss regimens, health exams, and on-site fitness equipment are excellent ways for helping teams increase their overall productivity by concentrating on the full person.
9. Concentration on concentration
Employee burnout is a serious issue in every sector. It causes procrastination, a lack of drive, and even damage and sickness. A 2019 study published in the journal Psychology and Health found that holidays can improve physical health, mental wellness, cognitive function, and relationships.
Encourage getaways and vacations to keep minds sharp. Provide remote work opportunities to reduce commuting weariness. There are numerous methods for maintaining great contact with your remote workforce while increasing business productivity.
10. Hold one-on-one meetings
Some people find it difficult to openly speak and discuss their thoughts at work, whether with their employer or their coworkers. Set up collaborations with members of your team to promote inclusion. Schedule regular in-person meetings or video calls to address workload, goals, and challenges with the goal of enhancing overall performance and experience.
