Keeping the productivity levels up is something all serious managers emphasize. However, this is not easy, and now that we are forced to work from home, things have become even more difficult.
This shift also means that managers have to find new ways to be good remote leaders. Boosting employee productivity means making people work better, making them feel valued and respected.
So, what can you do to make this happen?
Increase Employee Engagement With Gifts
Keeping your team of rockstars happy aside from paying them well is something that not many businesses know how to do. It’s is a hot topic, and many individuals have differing opinions regarding what needs to be done to boost overall engagement and productivity.
However, it seems like gifts never fail to deliver. Great benefits, good salaries, and flexible perks entice employees to stay at your company and work hard. But, handing out a gift can be an unexpected gesture that can make a huge difference.
Just remember to do all the necessary preparations before you decide to reward your workers for their loyalty:
- Determine your budget.
- Ensure good etiquette for gifting (gifts should have the same value).
- Try to personalize gifts.
- Make this initiative a regular yearly activity.
For example, you could start handing out gifts for tenure celebrations and anniversary milestones. That should be a good start. If you feel like you could use some help regarding the gift ideas, please check out SnackNation and their ideas for work anniversary gifts. These will help you determine what kind of gifts best suit your employees.
Use Expense Report Software
Using an expense report tool will help you boost the bottom line by simplifying your T&E operations and improving productivity. Good expense reporting software eliminates the need for paper. It automatically routes expense reports to approvers.
That way, employees won’t have to worry about making mistakes since this software eliminates the chances of data-entry errors. Moreover, good expense report software reduces processing time and costs, leading to better operational efficiency.
When employees can scan receipts and submit them from anywhere, manual tasks get eliminated, enhancing productivity. They get more time to focus on more critical charges and duties.
Last but not least, this kind of software simplifies compliance because it quickly categorizes expenses and creates audit trails for tax purposes. No doubt using this kind of software will benefit both your business and your employees.
Improve Your Workplace Conditions
There is an interesting study that examines how people behave in different environments. Some of these environments are pleasing and appealing, while some fail to deliver. We can conclude, from this study, that managers often think that all they need to do is incentivize their employees to take a specific action.
However, environment design proves that people’s choices and preferences can be impacted by their environment. Suddenly, it becomes apparent that we don’t need to be motivated or incentivized to take a specific action. Instead, we need to be surrounded by the right cues.
So, if you want to boost team productivity, you should improve your workplace conditions and consider using software for employee monitoring. If you all work from an office, ensure that the space is well lit and also that there are designated areas where employees can take a break or make calls and collaborate.
On the other hand, if you work from home, you should do everything you can to make the room you work from like an office as much as you can. Keep in mind that the worst thing you can do is mix home with work.
Optimize Meetings
Did you know that employees spend almost 87 hours per month on meetings? This number amounts to millions of dollars in loss due to all the unproductive discussions. To combat this problem, your company should try to implement the following tips:
- First of all, send emails instead of holding meetings. This method is a faster and more precise way to communicate.
- Also, reduce the number of meetings per month. You only need to hold meetings that have a significant value.
- Next, reduce the number of attendees. It is fair to say that we have vital and non-vital employees when it comes to decision-making. So, only invite those who can make a significant impact by attending the meetings.
- Last but not least, you should try to reduce the time spent in each meeting. Cover the most important discussion topics and call it a day.
No Micromanagement
Try to be clear with the tasks you delegate. Explain expectations, requirements, and be sure when delegating. Avoid micromanaging every detail as this will make task delegation almost pointless. After all, most employees feel demoralized by micromanagement, and that surely won’t help you boost productivity.
So, manage expectations and requirements, provide the necessary guidelines, and let your workers know what you expect from them. Once you do that, leave the room and don’t look back, making your workers feel more relaxed and confident in their skills.
Final Words
Never forget how vital employee productivity is for the success of your business. That’s why you need to try and implement whatever you can from this article.