Low productivity in the workplace can have a serious effect on the fortunes of the company.
Studies have shown that when the causes of productivity problems are not identified, it can cost the company in financial terms. This is why it is a good idea to identify the causes of low productivity and resolve them proactively. Here, we look at a few proactive ways you can resolve the problem of low productivity in your organisation.
Employee motivation
Dealing with low workplace productivity starts with employee engagement and motivation. When employees are properly engaged in what they need to know about the day to day running of the business, they tend to show more interest in its fortunes, and this can lead to increased productivity.
Additionally, when employees are well motivated, they are more inclined to work efficiently, thus increasing production. Employees are typically motivated by a good working environment, a regular paycheck, health insurance, and retirement benefits.
Once some or all of these are in place, organisations will see a marked increase in workplace productivity.
Employee training
Poor productivity is not only caused by a lack of motivation. A lack of qualifications for the job role can also result in productivity problems. This is why it is vital that employees are regularly trained to meet up with the current trends in their respective fields.
When you train your employees, you are equipping them with the tools they need to be relevant in their chosen industry. While they remain in your employment, this relevance will benefit your business. A 2013 study published in the International Journal of Science and Research found that employee training can be equally beneficial to both the employers and the employee. It also leads to greater efficiency and improved productivity.
Teamwork
Not every productivity problem should be placed on the table of the employers. In some cases, employees are responsible for creating and sustaining their own momentum.
If after adequate motivation, engagement, and training, you still find yourself at the lower end of the productivity spectrum; it could be that there is something you are not doing right. In this situation, consider affiliating yourself with a team where you can complement each other’s efforts in the company.
Teamwork has a positive impact on productivity. When more minds are focused on a project or task, increased input will result in innovative ideas that can turn things around.
Additionally, teamwork has a way of encouraging positive competition among team members, and this can help enhance your productivity levels, as well as that of others in your team.
Regular performance appraisals
Carrying out regular performance appraisals is necessary to ensure that hard work is properly rewarded. It also helps identify the weakness and strength of individual employees so that they can be placed in projects where their strengths can be properly utilised, thus improving productivity in those projects.
Reward is necessary to encourage more productivity, and it will also motivate others who are lagging behind to pick up the pace.
You can also carry out regular performance appraisals on yourself to determine if you were able to meet the targets you set for yourself and if the result of your work added value to the organisation.