As a business owner, your primary concern is to make a profit. Moreover, it is only natural to believe that there is always a way to grow your business exponentially faster.
While we cannot make the days longer, we can still get more work done. In most cases, integrating the right tools and strategies can help.
Above those elements, you can try to shift your employees’ daily habits and mindset, enabling them to become more productive.
What if we told you that you can increase your output without adding more people to your team? This can be possible, especially since your profit also depends on how productive your employees are.
According to a survey conducted by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, a 2.8 percent increase in staff productivity from the non-financial corporate sector resulted in a 3.1 percent output increase.
Consequently, there was a 13.2 percent annual rate increase in profits.
In this post, we will share the essential productivity tips for a successful small business. We will show you how you can encourage your employees to work smarter without compromising their output.
1. Let your employees become responsible for their work hours
Productivity has a lot to do with how a person efficiently uses the time they have. Now, you expect your employees to put a certain number of work hours for you.
However, you can only ensure that they are using their time well by getting the right tools to keep track of their tasks. There are plenty of Windows and Mac time tracking apps that make the process a lot easier for your employees.
Of course, it is completely natural for managers to encourage their workers to maximize their time.
However, how would you know if they are meeting their expected daily output? How can you measure the work they put out there? This is where creating clear daily targets comes in.
When people know that they are working towards a goal, they will likely work more efficiently. By improving their moral, you are also increasing their productivity.
What’s important is you create a realistic timeline that all your employees can follow. One of the best ways to set goals is by breaking targets in smaller chunks.
Start by determining the outcome you expect from your employees, and when you’ve done that, identify the kind of tasks that they can perform to help them achieve their end goal.
By doing so, you can determine the monthly, weekly, and even daily targets that every person must achieve.
Moreover, you can help your employees pace themselves and work towards hitting every milestone.
2. Put an appropriate planning system in place
Workplace distraction is one of the biggest factors that hamper productivity.
According to a survey conducting by online learning company Udemy, about 36 percent of Gen Z workers spend about two hours or more every day doing personal activities on their phones.
Moreover, about 66 percent of these employees never reach out to their managers to discuss their struggles with workplace distractions.
So, if you want to know how to start a productive business, you must step up and create an efficient task management system.
There are many tools and apps that make it easier for you to track progress and remove distractions.
The key is to find one that works for you, making sure that the program will not overcomplicate matters.
For instance, some apps are designed for collaboration and teams. So, if you’re a solo entrepreneur, you might not need them. Meanwhile, if you prefer jotting down, you shouldn’t be obligated to switch to a high-tech tool.
On the other hand, there are tools that will let you know how much you’re getting distracted by non-essential activities. For example, when you use a time tracking app like Traqq, you will know how much time you spend on certain sites and programs.
3. Determine urgent and important tasks
You may wonder, “How do entrepreneurs stay productive?” Well, one of the ways to do so is to master the skill of prioritizing. Having a to-do list is an excellent practice, but if it is not arranged in a certain order, it won’t be effective.
When you’re making a list, dedicate some time in rearranging the items based on their urgency and importance. Otherwise, you may end up getting things done but
leaving the critical ones pending. It’s always best to prioritize important tasks that are most urgent and take the longest to complete.
If you are a small business owner, you can benefit from developing an efficient workflow. Let’s face it, when you are starting a company, you have to do everything. Aside from being the CEO, you may also be the CFO, IT specialist, and admin assistant.
Of course, things can get overwhelming. So, to handle everything more efficiently, we suggest that you redefine your workflow.
4. Create a working environment that is conducive to productivity
Your employees won’t be able to meet their targets if they work in unfavorable conditions. Keep in mind that an uncomfortable environment can also distract them from being productive.
There is a reason why big tech companies like Facebook and Google invest effort, time, and money on workspaces. These businesses understand that an employee’s success is also dependent on the environment they work in.
You too can gain some inspiration from these companies, especially since most Gen Z workers have become more wary and unforgiving when choosing the organizations they’ll work for.
There are plenty of ways to optimize your office to care for your employees. Here are some tips we recommend:
5. Improve comfort
Having a visually appealing and clean work environment can impact your employees’ mood and performance.
Ensure that there is adequate lighting—especially from natural sources—to improve their energy and sharpen their focus.
Aside from having enough light, your workers can become more productive when they have ergonomic chairs, desks, monitors, and keyboards.
Of course, they can concentrate efficiently when they are not producing buckets of sweat or thawing their frozen fingers.
Keep the AC at a comfortable temperature and make sure that there is proper ventilation in the office.
6. Avoid a stuffy office layout
Having a cluttered work environment can be detrimental to your employees’ productivity.
It can be challenging to get work done when people keep bumping each other with their elbows because the desks are just a few inches apart.
When there is no personal space, conflicts can arise between co-workers. Of course, this can add to the stress of getting tasks done. If your budget permits, lease a bigger office.
On the other hand, you can be smart about the layout and invest on wall-mounted shelves to gain more floor space. Moreover, you can move your file storage electronically so you won’t have to keep bulky file cabinets in your office.
7. Give rewards
Nothing excites employees to work harder than incentives. When you use bonuses and rewards correctly, you can boost everyone’s morale and spirits.
However, make sure that you only offer performance-based incentives. Most of the time, positive reinforcement can be an effective strategy.
However, it can also function as a double-edged sword. If you don’t use it the right way, it may dry up your coffers while generating minimal results.
Remember that most employees see incentives beyond their cash value. For many, rewards are also a sign that you are acknowledging the hard work they put out.
There are a lot of things that happen behind the scenes when you are trying to run a successful business. Whether you are operating a small or a big company, it is essential that your productivity and time management is always on point.
We may have provided a couple of productivity tips in this article, but as always, use techniques that work best for your employees.
Finidi Lawson is a tech enthusiast and a Windows 10 expert who writes for Traqq. His passion is finding effective solutions to Windows 10 problems and resolving the most complicated software and hardware issues. Armed with a high level of expertise and a deep understanding of how computer technology works, Finidi believes that his mission is helping people get the most out of their devices.
