It goes without saying that an efficient workplace leads to a more successful business. Not only will you and your employees save time, but you’ll also get more accomplished in the time that you have. More and more people are spending 40+ hours at their jobs these days, but that added time does not necessarily equate into extra productivity. To cut down on time and bulk up on actual work completed, try incorporating these tips.
1. Offer Employee Incentives
While it might feel a bit like dangling a carrot, incentives have time and time again proven effective. Not only do incentives encourage employees to work more efficiently, they provide a reason for them to do so. Incentives are way to recognize employees for a job well done and to make them feel valued and appreciated so that they continue to increase their productivity.
When implementing your incentive program, it’s important to individualize each component and remember that while one employee might thrive on public recognition, another will very much prefer a private “thank you.” In addition to words of affirmation, a few additional incentives to try are:
• PTO: While a bonus or raise is nice, a little extra paid time off is enough of an incentive for most employees.
• Lazy Day Coupons: Another fun option is a “Lazy Day” coupon, which gives an employee a free pass to arrive late on a specified day.
• Free or Catered Meal: Food is often the way to most employees’ hearts, so a free meal is a great way to reward employees and offer them an incentive.
Also, you should always keep up with the volatility of the salaries in your niche. You can consult a salary guide to get the proper information regarding whether you should give your employees a raise or not.
2. Invest in Time-Saving Technology
While integrating new technology may seem like an inefficient use of time right now, focus on how it can save you time in the long run. For example, investing in new HR software, like an employee portal, will not only save your company time and money, but it will also help your employees be more efficient. By implementing such a system, the company has managed to simplify the employee onboarding process, automate payroll and improve overall efficiency company-wide by providing employees immediate access to resources they need to do their jobs – scheduling, medical forms, IT service requests, etc.
3. Implement Telecommuting
Many employers are hesitant to embrace telecommuting for fear that it will reduce productivity. But in fact, the opposite is true. Studies show that people who work from home are nearly 13 percent more productive than employees in the office all the time. Implementing telecommuting for occasions when your employees are feeling too ill to make it into work but well enough to still be productive or when another appointment or schedule conflict arises is a great way to increase productivity without spending a lot of extra money.
4. Provide Frequent Feedback
Forget the days of the (maybe) once a year review, and begin incorporating frequent feedback into your routine with your employees. This feedback doesn’t have to be a formal performance review but rather a quick check to share where your employees are succeeding and where they need a little revamping to be more effective. Keep in mind, though, that this feedback should be a two-way street. Once you’ve provided your employees with feedback, give them the opportunity to share specific things you can do to help them improve. This practice creates a culture of open dialogue that will improve your entire company.
5. Assign Tasks Based on Employee Strengths
In most companies, individuals are hired for a job and expected to do that job. The only problem is that periodically there are tasks that need to be accomplished that are not best fit for that employee. Rather than just relying on a static job description, begin assigning tasks within your company based on who is most capable of effectively completing the job. For example, don’t assign the task of pitching new ideas to clients to someone who is more rule and detail oriented. Instead, give that responsibility to the individual on your team who is the extroverted, creative thinker. Get to know your team members’ strengths and weaknesses and use them to increase productivity.
Requiring your employees to be great at every task is not efficient. Instead, when you are considering task assignments, ask yourself the question: “Is this person best suited to complete this task?” If the answer is no, then find someone else on the team whose skills and styles are a better match. This will not only increase efficiency, but it will also promote more job satisfaction for your employees.
In an economy where time literally does equal money, it’s important that you really focus on how you and your team can be more efficient. Use these tips to increase your productivity and get the most out of the time that you have.
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