Research has found that the majority of employees quit their jobs due to long hours and boredom. As a manager, it’s your job to boost your employees’ productivity.
After all, happy employees improve workplace morale, which helps you meet your company goals. Fortunately, it doesn’t need to be complicated to motivate your team.
Let’s get into what you need to know!
1. Communicate Clearly and Effectively
When it comes to dynamic leadership, your communication skills are critical. In other words, you should be transparent about your expectations for each employee.
Communication requires discipline and effort. It means using assertive language that isn’t too aggressive or too passive. It also means taking the time to learn how to best approach each employee.
2. Provide Defined and Achievable Goals
There’s nothing more frustrating than showing up to work each day without knowing what you’re supposed to do. If your employees feel that way, they’re either going to slack off or burn out. If neither of these options appeals to you, then it’s time to look inward.
What are your goals? What do you expect each person to complete by the end of the day, week, or quarter? Better yet, how are you going to measure if and when your employees meet those goals?
3. Incentivize Your Team
While pay raises may not always be practical, incentives keep employees feeling proud and confident in the work they do.
It’s your job to recognize and validate a job well done. Monetary bonuses can go far, but you can also try other creative approaches like team-building days and company-sponsored lunches. Furthermore, medals, plaques (like the ones on this page), and trophies can also be incredibly meaningful.
Don’t forget that sending out a shout-out email can go a long way in making someone’s day
4. Provide Routine Training
Untrained employees often feel inadequate and inferior in the workplace. As a result, their work often appears lackluster- at best.
Focus on training your team! It’s always a worthwhile investment- both in your time and money. After all, the less competent your employees feel, the more work you end up having to do.
5. Provide The Tools They Need
Employees can feel incredibly limited and discouraged if they’re using outdated equipment. Furthermore, if they’re having to bring in their own supplies, that’s basically a foolproof path towards resentment.
Ask your team what they need! How are the computers? Would they benefit from using collaboration and innovative communication apps?
What technology continues to provide problems? Can you find it in the workplace budget to make reasonable upgrades?
6. Be Mindful of Micromanaging
There’s little in life that’s more frustrating than feeling like someone’s watching (and judging) your every move. You don’t like that feeling, and your employees certainly don’t like it, either.
As a manager, you should trust your team. If you don’t, there are larger problems at hand (like needing to recruit better employees). By trusting your team, you must give them the freedom they need to flourish.
Practice letting go of control. Even if it feels scary and hard, it’s a necessary skill. You can’t watch everyone at every moment, and even trying to do so will only distance your team from you.
7. Promote Self-Care
Self-care is a trending buzzword in modern society, and it’s for a good reason. More and more research is continuing to show how stress impacts physical and mental health.
What’s one of the best solutions for combating this stress? Self-care! As a manager, you play an invaluable role in modeling this crucial skill.
That means you should call out of work when you feel sick. You should strive to maintain a healthy diet and an appropriate exercise routine. Finally, you should feel comfortable talking about work-life balance.
Don’t forget to reward self-care! Consider starting up a lunchtime walking club or a group guided meditation once a month. You’d be surprised at how excited some of your employees will get.
8. Offer Perks
What makes your workplace attractive? If it’s just a steady paycheck, don’t be surprised if employees keep looking elsewhere.
In a working world of nap pods and dog daycare, more and more employees are valuing specific perks over pay raises.
How can you integrate this trend into your workplace? Can you offer a ‘wellness day’ once or twice a month? What about subsidizing gym memberships or offering snacks and beverages?
Better yet, ask your employees which perks they’d appreciate! Even if you can’t grant them their wishes immediately, you’ll be aware of what they value.
9. Encourage Open Feedback
Just like corporate reputation matters, your leadership reputation matters as well! Do you think that you’re the best manager in town? Let’s see what your employees have to say about that.
All leaders have their strengths, weaknesses, and blind spots. Your team can help you recognize the areas where you need to improve.
Make sure that you provide a safe forum for this kind of feedback. If employees even suspect that you’ll get defensive, they’ll hold back from the truth.
Consider sending out anonymous surveys annually. Encourage employees to identify their favorite and least favorite parts of the job. Ask them to rate how well you’re doing in communication, leadership, and fostering a productive enviornment.
Final Thoughts On Boosting Employees’ Productivity
Boosting employees’ productivity requires diligence and effort. That said, it’s worth the work. You’ll have a happier workplace, happier employees, and you’ll feel happier as their supervisor!
Interested in learning 5 more productivity tips that can benefit your office? Check out this article today!