Just try to imagine closing in each workday with a satisfied sigh, knowing your team has accomplished exactly what you had planned for the day. Unfortunately, this doesn’t happen as often as most business owners would want, but there are ways to make it happen. In fact, with just a few simple changes in your approach and office design, you can give your employees a huge productivity boost. Listed below are the top five ways to increase workplace productivity in your small business.
Set goals
Setting goals is one of the most important things you, as the business owner, are supposed to do. When your small business sets goals, it shows everyone within your business what they should focus on during the upcoming quarter. No matter how much your employees love their jobs, there will be times when they simply don’t feel like working. However, when there’s a goal that needs to be accomplished, they’ll feel more motivated to show up and give their 100%. Goals also promote teamwork and increase morale. Moreover, having clearly-set goals means you and your team can measure your success and identify aspects of your work that need improvement.
Say no to multitasking
One of the biggest mistakes employees tend to make is to believe they can get more work done when multitasking. Studies have shown that tackling multiple tasks at the same time actually has a negative impact on their productivity, which is why discouraging multitasking at the workplace is a must. You can do it by not assigning new tasks to your employees until they’ve finished the one at hand. Also, think about creating a smartphone policy as most employees now use these things to browse social media or news while working. Try to limit interruptions as they’re just multitasking in disguise. The best way to do it is to encourage staff members to turn off notifications and close their office door if necessary.
Reduce the noise
Ask any employee and they’ll tell you working in a noisy office is tough. That said, if you manage to block all the noise coming into the office, you might just be able to see your employees getting more work done. The good news is, there are so many ways you can do it. For example, you can install office partitions and make sure those who work in a group can talk without having to worry about making noise. Buying office plants or ordering rugs online can also help soundproof your office and give your staff members a productivity boost. Last but not least, consider getting noise-cancelling headphones for those who prefer working while listening to music.
Practice positive reinforcements
Employees love to know that all the hard work they put in is being recognized. The best thing about it is that any type of positive reinforcement can help them be more productive. Sometimes, all you need to do is write thank you notes upon project completion and you’ll put a smile on your employees’ faces. If you want to do something different, you can always throw an office party to celebrate a successful project. Ask your employees to bring their family members and there’s no doubt they’ll enjoy it. Another smart idea is to have personalized trophies designed for those who contributed the most.
Have the right tools and equipment
We now live in the age of technology and there are devices for absolutely everything. This means it’s up to you to provide your team employees with all the necessary tools and equipment. Do this and there’s no doubt you’ll see their productivity take a big jump. Depending on the type of business you’re running, your staff members might need a laptop so they can work from home as well. This will help them get everything done even when they stay at home. You can also think about investing in Cloud space for your business and allowing them to store files online. Invest in quality software for office PCs and you’ll ensure not a single second your employees spend in the office is wasted.
Final thoughts
Every successful business owner knows that office productivity isn’t something you can force onto employees. Instead, it’s all about helping them create the best possible work environment and making sure they’re happy working for you. Start by giving these five ways a go and you should soon see everyone in the office starting to get more work done. Keep looking for new ways to increase workplace productivity and only the sky will be the limit for your small business.