Enhancing Employee Productivity - What Works and What Doesn't Work
By: Obaro Aziza
One major concern for every organization irrespective of its size and specialty is the productivity of its employees. Organizations are constantly seeking new and more effective ways to increase the productivity of their employees.
While this looks like an unending journey, I have written on some very cost-effective ways that organizations can go about enhancing the productivity of their employees.
In this article you will be exposed to some practical ideas that are easy to implement and can have tremendous effects on your organization.
First we would look at what works, what organizations should do to enhance productivity. Secondly we would look at what doesn't work, what they need to stop doing.
Enjoy your reading...
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What works?
Some very relevant factors that can help your organization build a productive workforce.
1) A culture that promotes productivity
Does the culture of your organization encourage productivity or mediocrity? Organizations need to understand the effect their cultures have on the productivity of their employees. Organizations should identify the aspects of their culture that may have a negative effect on their employees' performance and eliminate them.
2) High level of collaboration
Does your organization place a high value on team work and collaboration? Are employees encouraged to work in groups to solve problems? When team work is encouraged, employees have the opportunity to share ideas and learn from others and this fosters productivity. Encourage employees to work as a team and reduce unhealthy competition.
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3) Transparency and Trust
Integrity is very vital in building a productive workforce. Organizations should not be concerned about showing integrity to their clients alone but also doing the same to their employees. Do employees have trust in your organization? Do they believe that it will deliver on its promises? Is management open and transparent in its transactions? In a work environment where there is trust and transparency, employees tend to be more productive.
4) Proper communication
Proper communication of the values and expectations of the organization to its employees can greatly boost productivity. How often does your organization communicate its values to employees? How often are employees reminded of the goals of the organization and the roles they play in helping the organization achieve these goals? Organizations must put in place proper and effective communication systems that work.
5) Sincere concern for employees' welfare and fairness
This would most often reflect in the policies of the organization. How 'employee' friendly are the policies of your organization? Are employees treated fairly? Are some employees more special than some others in your organization? Productivity is greatly enhanced when employees feel that they are being treated fairly and when they know that their organization cares about them.
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What doesn't work?
Factors that could affect your employees' productivity adversely may include.
1) An unfriendly work environment
Work should be like home for employees, a place where they love to go to. How delighted are employees when they are at work? Organizations have to make the work environment friendlier and a place where employees love to be. The happier employees feel at work, the more productive they are.
2) An inefficient reward system
What is the aim of your organization's reward strategy? What does it encourage, productivity or mediocrity? Organizations must ensure that they are rewarding the right behaviors in employees, they must reward behaviors they what to be repeated. Always bear in mind that employees are encouraged to repeat behaviors that they are being rewarded for.
3) Incompetent managers
Leaders and managers drive the rest of the team in the organization, they provide direction and create the path which other employees follow. How competent are the managers in your organization? How well are they able to communicate the right culture and values to their team? Organizations must invest in getting the right people as managers and train them continuously.
4) Misalignment
This is one big secret to maximizing employee productivity. The higher the degree of alignment employees have with the values, culture and the goals of the organization, the more motivated and productive they tend to be. Organizations therefore have to recruit people who share the same values and who will blend into the culture of the organization.
Little things really matter a lot, putting these ideas to work can greatly enhance the productivity of the employees in your organization.
About the Author
Obaro Aziza is an HR professional with specialties in Learning and Development, Training Facilitation, Talent Acquisition, Business Partnering, Performance Management, Talent Management, HR and Business Consulting, Business Development, Strategy, Business Analysis, Business writing.
You can reach him on LinkedIn here.
