Every business would like to have all departments operating smoothly and efficiently, but unfortunately, in most organisations that is not the case.
However, you will be happy to learn that there are proven techniques that can be implemented to boost the productivity of all departments. The most successful leaders of any organisation will employ a combination of soft and hard skills that will allow them to efficiently balance their team and enable each employee to flourish and work to their maximum potential.
The following are proven methods for increasing productivity within your business.
Setting Clear Expectations
When it comes to boosting productivity, unrealistic expectations will lead to failure before you even begin. Make sure you take the time to thoroughly assess what changes you would like to see made and determine a timeframe for accomplishing them. Make sure the expectations are clearly communicated to everyone involved. Be sure to set weekly, monthly, and annual goals.
Invest in Organisational Tools
By investing in the right tools, such as a CRM, virtual planners and time trackers you can store and retrieve information easily. Virtually tracking different types of work is one way to quickly see what everyone is working on, and assess progress against deadlines.
Regular Team Meetings
Information can easily be misunderstood, or communication can break down, especially in larger or fast-moving companies. This can potentially cause several issues. Having weekly/bi-weekly team meetings can reduce this by allowing everyone to voice their concerns and allowing solutions to emerge.
More Than Small Talk
Many business leaders overlook the importance of getting to know the people they work with every day. If you can, try and have lunch with your team once a month and ask questions, listen to how they feel in their position, and discuss any concerns they may have.
Take an interest in their life outside of work – you will be able to build a closer rapport, and the productivity levels of your employees will inevitably rise, as they will feel more valued as an individual rather than simply just another employee.
Note Everything Down
Managing a large group of people can be extremely difficult, as juggling many priorities can result in forgetting important details. Taking notes is one way to fix this issue. Obviously, you don’t need to write down everything you hear, but you should make note of key points and things you need to address later. There is no right or wrong way to record information. Sticky notes, whiteboards, a diary, and putting information into a word document can all be useful methods to store takeaways from meetings and conversations. For most people, it is simply not possible to multitask and remember everything, so the easiest solution is to start writing things down.
