The sobering news is in: a staggering 70% of American employees report feeling disengaged at work.
Even though both employees and employers alike understand the importance of productivity in the workplace, studies show that hard work ethic may actually be on the decline.
If you’re looking to increase workplace morale or boost the energy in your office, this article is for you. Let’s get into the top tips!
Manage Without Micro-Managing
If you’ve ever had a micro-managing boss, you know how annoying and stressful it can feel. On one hand, you may feel totally dependent on your boss’s detailed direction. On the other hand, you feel constantly watched and scrutinized.
One thing is for sure: micro-managing makes any competent employee feel like a small child. It’s stunting for growth, and it’s often a waste of your time.
And, in a professional workplace, this shouldn’t be happening. You need to trust your employees and allow them to freely operate and perform in whatever capacity they work best in.
Trust your hiring judgment. If they made it through the vetting process, they clearly have competence and skill. It’s up to you to have the faith that they can get the job efficiently and effectively.
For those possibly slipping through the cracks or turning in lackluster work? Consult with them privately. Ask what they need.
Be prepared to collaborate on finding solutions, rather than just identifying problems.
Reward and Compensate Regularly
When a child does a good job, we like to give her praise and maybe a piece of candy. Later on, in school, teachers reward good academic effort and positive test scores by giving students stellar report cards.
What’s the takeaway here? Even in our adult states, we need praise and recognition for a job well done.
That means your employees need to feel routinely appreciated and compensated for the hard work they do. Otherwise, you risk disgruntled employees and a loss of productivity in the workplace.
And, remember this: rewards don’t always have to be monetary to be effective. Even words of encouragement or sending out an email shouting out an employee can go a long way.
Make Learning Interesting
Who likes sitting through endless meetings? Approximately nobody, that’s who. If you’re still running long, tedious meetings or making your employees attend dull workshops, you’re probably losing out on valuable productivity in the workplace.
Instead, make it interesting! Consider team-building exercises for learning. Consider looking into some of the trending gamification solutions, which reinforce behavioral change and provide instant feedback.
Make meetings interactive and dynamic- and keep them as short and effective as possible. This will save you and your employees time.
And, be sure to ask your employees what kinds of training they would like to attend. After all, if they’re requesting a certain kind of workshop, they’re far more likely to pay attention to the content presented, right?
Define Goals & Expectations Clearly
No employee wants to play the guess-what-the-boss-wants game. It’s frustrating and a guaranteed way to jeopardize productivity in the workplace.
Instead, it’s important to clearly define company goals and your expectations for each employee’s individual role. You should be able to separate these goals into both short-term and long-term projects.
But, defining goals is only half the battle. You need to provide detailed feedback when the employees do (or do not) complete these goals. It’s important to validate success and address errors or mistakes.
Create and Promote Opportunities for Growth
When employees feel stagnant in their current roles, it’s easy to become complacent or unproductive. This can be frustrating for both you and your employees.
Many people want to climb their career ladders. It’s always important to have clear-cut opportunities available to those who excel.
Whether it’s in the form of promotions, job titles, or simply moving to a better office, we often need some external motivation to internally push ourselves.
If an employee feels “stuck” in his current position, he may be more likely to look elsewhere for growth, rather than in your company.
Get Creative with Perks
Maybe you’ve heard of all the start-ups in Silicon Valley offering everything from massage rooms to gourmet lunches to on-site gyms for employees. It’s probably time to follow suit.
Even if you aren’t able to give everyone on your team raises, there are plenty of awesome perks that you can implement for your staff.
What about catered lunches every month? Offering remote work options? Providing employees with a stipend option to buy books or educational materials?
You want to make your place an exciting and sought-after place to work. Happy employees = productive employees. If you’re not offering your staff much, it’s hard to expect much from them in return.
Implement Clear, Appropriate Communication
Have you ever had a boss criticize you? What about a boss that was passive-aggressive or hostile? No matter what it was, you probably felt uncomfortable and insecure, right?
Don’t be that boss! Clear communication continues to represent one of the greatest keys to unlocking productivity in the workplace.
Clear communication creates a positive work environment; employees and employers feel mutually respected. There are no “mixed messages” about what to or what not to expect.
Remember, as a boss, you inherently take a leadership role. If you can’t model clear, assertive communication, how do you expect your employees to implement it in their daily interactions?
Final Thoughts on Enhancing Productivity in the Workplace
Effective bosses know how to lead, and they also know how to connect and understand with their employees.
If you model a positive and productive work ethic, you’re creating a path for others to follow suit.
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