Getting the most out of every day and completing goals and projects can be one of the hardest things about going to work.
Some days, you just lack motivation and as a result, your productivity suffers. Luckily, there are ways to optimise your productivity in the office, and we are here to tell you how.
Listed below are our top tips to encourage your team to get more productivity out of every day.
Take Regular Breaks
Going full steam ahead will only burn out your employees. Encourage them to take regular breaks to clear their mind and come back fresh and ready to complete the task.
Get them to step away from the computer, keep hydrated, step outside for a moment or do some stretches- anything to get them moving every once in a while.
Break Up Tasks into Manageable Chunks
An easy way to encourage your team to get more productivity out of every day is to get them to break up their work into small tasks to complete throughout the day.
Having smaller, more manageable goals allows them to see their progress on a more regular basis and they won’t be overwhelmed with the amount of work they still have to do. It can be useful to time each completed task with a break as well.
Don’t Take on Too Much
Keep a manageable amount of work at all times. Don’t take on an extra job that you know you don’t have the time or energy to complete.
Taking on too much work will only make you, your employees or your workmates stressed out, and having too much on their plate will lead to less productivity as they won’t know where to start.
Photo: reynermedia, Flickr
Work Environment
Having a healthy, positive work environment can easily increase team productivity. Ensure there are minimal distractions such as social media, play some stimulating music to keep employees awake, alert and entertained, and organise work spaces to avoid clutter and stress.
Make sure your desk is well set out and easy to navigate so tasks can be completed with ease and you are not constantly searching for things you need.
Do the Hard Tasks First
Another way to encourage your team to get more productivity out of every day is to start the hardest tasks first. When you arrive at the workplace every morning, start working on the most important or most difficult tasks, as this will put them straight into work mode and stimulate the brain. It will also eliminate the tasks they don’t want to do and will get these jobs out of the way.
Keep a Notebook Handy
Have a notebook and pen in your desk or work bag at all times so that you can jot down ideas and notes wherever you are, and get to work straight away from the notes and ideas taken down when it’s time to work on the next job.
Find your Prime Time
Everybody has a time of the day where they work the best. Find out when this is for you and encourage other employees to do the same so they can make the most of this time and increase team productivity.
Take Care of Yourself
Taking care of yourself out of work is one of the best ways to get more productivity out of every day. Eating well, drinking lots of water, getting enough sleep and exercising regularly will all help to increase wellness and reduce stress, which will in turn help with productivity in the work place.
Photo: Matthew Ragan, Flickr
Plan Outside Life
Planning everything outside of work will de-clutter the brain, allowing you to focus on the task at hand. Plan your weeks’ worth of meals, write out your grocery list and keep up to date with bills so everything is organised, up to date and ready to go when you leave work for the day.
Time Management
Learning how to manage your time is a huge way to reduce stress and get more productivity out of every day. Write to do lists, keep a calendar or diary and plan your tasks inside and outside of work ahead of time to keep your life on track. This includes scheduling in social time and downtime.
Knowing what you have to do and keeping up to date with it makes it much easier to get jobs done.
Talk to the People Around You
Having other people to talk to, work with and learn from can make a job more enjoyable, as you can bounce ideas off others, get support and feedback, and gain knowledge and skills from those around you. Encourage your team to talk to one another, as this will also help to build a strong team relationship. Even just having someone to talk to will keep your stress levels low and general happiness high.
Complete Similar Tasks in One
Work out what you have to do and group your tasks into categories that you can complete at one time. For example, you may have a lot of phone calls to make or meetings to schedule. Doing these similar jobs all at once will get more done in a shorter amount of time and give you breathing room to complete additional tasks at hand.
Flexibility
Being flexible with your employee’s hours will help to build a better relationship between you and them, and will encourage your team to get more productivity out of every day. They will be able to manage their life and time more effectively, lower stress levels and increase productivity.
It is important to understand that your employee may have commitments outside of work that must be taken into consideration when scheduling hours or managing outside life. If need be, allow employees to work from home.
Reward and Encourage
Reward yourself or those around you who complete a big task or goal. Encourage your employees every time they get something done, as this will make them feel appreciated and will motivate them to do more with their time and get more productivity out of every day.
Up-to-Date Equipment and Skills
Another way to encourage your team to get more productivity out of every day is to ensure all equipment and courses are up to date. This means any computers, machinery or phones are in good working order and have appropriate software, and all employees are up to date with the required skills and training courses needed.
Good Atmosphere
Having a healthy workplace atmosphere is very important to team productivity. Employees must want to come to work every day and be excited to do their jobs. One of the best ways to do this is to build a strong, friendly team and workplace environment.
We have compiled a list of the best team building exercises in our blog post here; Team Building Ideas for Great Staff Engagement.
Everyone is Equal
It is very important to treat everyone as equals. If employees feel comfortable, accepted, appreciated and equal to their workmates, they will be able to get more done at a higher standard. Employee relations are an integral part of a healthy, successful workplace, and treating all employees as equals is a great way to start.
Be Honest and Realistic
Be transparent with your team about the goals and requirements of the task at hand. If they clearly understand what they are supposed to do, they will be able to complete the task more confidently and efficiently, increasing overall productivity.
Don’t Try Too Hard!
The final way to encourage your team to get more productivity out of every day is to not try too hard. You can’t force your team into being productive, you can only encourage it and let it happen naturally. Every employee is different and works in different ways, so it is all about finding the best solutions and strategies for you and your team to discover what works and increase overall productivity and a successful team and business.
In Summary
Strong employee relations, good time management, a healthy work environment, support and a healthy lifestyle are some great ways to encourage your team to get more productivity out of every day, and it is all about finding out what works best for you and your team.
About the Author
Nicole Schreck is a student at Curtin University in Western Australia, completing a degree in Mass Communications and specialising in Journalism and Web Media. Nicole also has a keen interest in photography and film-making, and intends to combine all of her skills when she enters the workforce.
Nicole runs her own blog and YouTube channel, and has experience in radio work, newspaper writing, travel blogging and content marketing.
