How to Increase Productivity in the Workplace

In today's fast-paced business landscape, where competition is fierce and expectations are high, increasing productivity in the workplace has become more crucial than ever. Whether you're a busy business owner or a strategic team leader looking to optimise your team's performance, identifying different ways to improve productivity is essential to growth and success.

Prioritising implementing a strategy to increase productivity is essential, but it’s not always easy to do. And more importantly, your team should be at the heart of anything you put in place.

So, how do we improve a team's productivity in the workplace, from fostering unity to rewarding great work? Below we have provided some practical tips and proven techniques to help guide and empower your team.

Firstly, let’s define exactly what we mean when we refer to ‘productivity’. 

Productivity in the workplace refers to the efficiency with which resources, including time, labour, and materials, are utilised to achieve desired outcomes or goals. It’s not solely about working harder or longer hours but rather about working smarter, optimising processes, and maximising output while minimising waste and inefficiency.

However, as we said earlier, it’s impossible for a business to be successful without the backing of a hard-working and talented team. The pace and productivity of your employees can determine how far a business can go and how fast it can reach its full potential.

Simply instructing your employees to increase their productivity won’t be effective in the modern workplace. This requires a proactive approach, instilling inspiration and ultimately guiding your team toward greater efficiency and output. Ultimately, employee productivity is the engine on which a business thrives and the work that your employees do creates the results you desire for your business.

It’s vital to understand what factors impact your team’s productivity. When productivity dwindles, it's essential to pinpoint the root causes and take proactive steps to mitigate them. Identifying them quickly can prevent more than just a decline in work, it can also help prevent burnout.

There will always be factors that are out of your control, but for those that are within your power, it's crucial to fully analyse the situation so you can put in measures to figure out how to resolve the issues as soon as possible.

The most common factors that can affect productivity may include, but are not limited to:

• Employee Workload: If an employee feels overwhelmed with the work unfolding in front of them, quite often they don’t know where to begin. By creating a clear and achievable timeline of tasks, this can help the employee tackle their workload in a more efficient manner.
• Conflicting dynamics: A crossover in workload between colleagues can be detrimental to productivity. Defining clear job roles and encouraging team members to work together on collaborative tasks can reduce the feeling of confusion and at the same time provide a sense of unity for your team members.
• Team motivation: Employees need to feel a good sense of work-life balance. If work looks to be affecting external enjoyment, employees can switch off and become detached and reluctant to complete their work. With many employers offering remote working and a flexible working policy, this can help the employee to tailor their working hours to fit in around their life commitments.

By addressing these factors head-on and implementing targeted strategies to reduce their impact, businesses can cultivate a culture of productivity and drive sustained success.

Once you’ve identified why your workforce productivity levels may be low, a solution to the problem needs to be put in place and ensure that your employees are on board with these suggestions.

These can include:

Build Trust in Your Business

Building trust within your business is essential for building a positive work environment. When employees trust their organisation and its leadership, they are more likely to feel valued and motivated, leading to increased engagement and commitment to their work.

One effective way to build trust is by maintaining transparency in communication and decision-making processes. Keep employees informed about company goals, initiatives, and any changes that may affect them.

Uniforms can also play an important role in building trust by promoting professionalism and cohesion among team members. A uniform dress code can create a sense of unity and equality, minimising distractions and fostering a more focused work environment. Employees can often feel a sense of belonging when being part of a unified brand. Offering a personalised uniform can help instil a feeling of pride and inclusion.

Encourage Team Collaboration

A team that can work together correctly is guaranteed to have a greater output and improved productivity. Where appropriate and within individual strengths and job roles, encourage team members to work collaboratively to reach a result which is positive to drive internal satisfaction.

To encourage team collaboration, provide opportunities for cross-functional projects, brainstorming sessions, and regular team meetings where members can share updates, insights, and feedback.

Improve Employee Onboarding

Effective employee onboarding sets the foundation for long-term success. When new hires receive thorough and supportive onboarding, they are better equipped to integrate into their roles, understand company expectations, and contribute to the organisation from their very first day.

Therefore, ensure your employees have a positive experience with their onboarding and training period, providing opportunities for them to meet their colleagues and the wider business, and relevant and continuous professional development. Create a comprehensive onboarding program that covers essential information such as company policies, procedures, culture, and job responsibilities - everything your employees need to succeed from the very beginning.

Encourage Change of Scenery 

Where possible, arrange for colleagues to attend team-building events or meetings outside of the usual scenery to avoid a sense of repetition and stagnation. A working lunch at a local café can boost morale and enthuse employees upon their return to their workload. These casual gatherings provide an opportunity for team members to bond over shared meals and conversations, boosting morale and again, improving collaboration.

By encouraging a change of scenery, you can re-energise your team and reignite their enthusiasm for their work, ultimately leading to increased productivity and innovation.

To increase productivity in the workplace, we suggest implementing some of the ideas we’ve discussed above. And if you are looking to introduce personalised work attire to cultivate unity and boost productivity among your team, don’t hesitate to get in touch with us today.