A business is valued based on its level of productivity, but while this is true, most companies struggle to maintain high productivity levels consistently. And you can’t blame them because there’s always so much to do and never enough time to do it all.
This is why improving productivity should be a top priority for any business owner or manager looking to grow their company. Improving productivity means finding ways to get more done in less time without burning yourself (or your team) out in the process.
Now, changing an established business model is not that easy. There will be meetings, deliberations, and perhaps even resistance from some departments (if it’s a large company). But what if it doesn’t have to be this complicated? What if there are small changes you can make that can greatly improve the productivity of your business? Well, there are.
Here are six ways to improve productivity and, in turn, grow your business.
Complexity Is the Enemy of Efficiency
When processes, systems, and workflows are overly complicated, they can easily get bogged down, leading to wasted time, frustrated team members, and subpar results.
That’s why one of the best things you can do is keep things as simple as possible. Streamline your processes, eliminate unnecessary steps, and ensure everyone on your team understands their assigned tasks.
Of course, you might be thinking: “But my business is complex by nature. How can I possibly simplify things?” And that’s a fair point. Some businesses inherently have more moving parts than others.
However, that doesn’t mean you can’t strive for simplicity wherever possible. Look for areas where you can consolidate tasks, automate repetitive processes, or just generally cut out the fluff.
Review Your Goals Regularly
It’s easy to lose focus and slide off track when you don’t have a steady reminder of what you’re working towards. That’s why regularly reviewing your business goals and priorities is critical to maintaining a productive mindset.
Whether you choose to revisit objectives daily, weekly, or monthly, the important thing is to ingrain them in the minds of yourself and your team. Clearly define critical targets and constantly realign workflows and action steps to reach those milestones.
When you and your workers stay focused on the end game, it’s easier to avoid unproductive distractions and hindrances. Every task you complete will intentionally bring you one step closer to your business goals.
Cut Out Time-Wasting Activities
We all have personal productivity traps—those time-wasting activities that seem harmless enough at the moment but can quickly go out of control and ruin an entire workday.
For some people, it might be constantly checking social media or getting sucked into the world of YouTube, TikTok, or Instagram. For others, it could be excessive meetings or unnecessary back-and-forth emailing. A recent survey by Salary.com discovered that an average employee wastes over an hour per week on these sorts of distractions!
I’m not saying you need to eliminate distractions entirely in your workplace. That’s not realistic (or desirable, in many cases). We’re all humans and need occasional breaks and opportunities to recharge.
What I am suggesting, however, is to be more mindful of how you’re spending your time. Set limits for yourself, whether that’s restricting social media usage to designated break times or implementing a “no unnecessary meetings” policy. The same applies to your workers and team members.
You’d be amazed at how much more productive you (and your team) can be when you intentionally minimize time-wasting distractions.
Motivate Your Team
Happy, engaged employees will naturally be more driven and productive than unhappy, disconnected ones. If your team isn’t motivated, it will show in the quality and quantity of their output. So, as a business owner or manager, it’s your job to help keep your team motivated and engaged, and there are many ways you can do this.
Celebrating wins (even small ones) with custom trophies, awards, and shout-outs (during meetings) can go a long way toward making your employees feel appreciated and reinvigorated. Another excellent motivational tool is offering performance-based incentives like bonuses or extra paid time off.
However, the most important motivating thing you can provide your employees is creating a collaborative, psychologically safe environment where they feel comfortable sharing ideas, giving feedback, and taking measured risks. When they have a voice and feel invested in the team’s success, their motivation will surge, resulting in increased productivity.
Prioritize One-on-One Meetings
Group meetings certainly have their place, but they can also become major time vacuums if not correctly structured and facilitated.
That’s why holding regular one-on-one meetings is so invaluable. These kinds of meetings allow you to connect with each employee personally, address any concerns or roadblocks they might be facing, and ensure that they’re staying on track with their individual goals and tasks.
The one-on-one structure also increases transparency and personal investment in your employee’s productivity and growth. It prevents problems from festering or slipping through the cracks while deepening the manager-employee relationship.
So, do yourself (and your team) a favor and make one-on-one meetings a routine. With time, this managerial investment will pay dividends in improved productivity and team cohesion.
Embrace Technology
Tech is and will always be a game changer for businesses leveraging it, and yours should be no exception. In fact, failing to utilize the latest tech tools and solutions is a sure way to fall behind your competitors.
Of course, being strategic about which technologies you adopt is essential. So, do your research, get input from your team, and focus on solutions that directly address your specific productivity pain points and business goals.
Depending on the kind of business you do, you may need:
- Project management and team collaboration tools like Trello, Asana, Monday.com, etc.
- Cloud storage and file sharing via Google Drive, Dropbox, etc.
- CRMs like Salesforce or HubSpot to optimize sales processes
- Marketing automation tools like ActiveCampaign, HubSpot, or Marketo
- Remote team solutions like Zoom, Slack, and Microsoft Teams
When leveraged effectively, these tools can be the catalyst for the productivity and growth your business seeks.
Wrapping Up
Productivity improvement requires consistency, adaptability, and a willingness to refine and optimize your approach continuously. So, don’t allow these strategies to limit you. Keep experimenting with good ideas to position your business for long-term success and growth. Good luck!
