5 Tips to Increase Your Workers’ Productivity

5 tips to increase employee productivity

Workplace productivity greatly influences the level of effectiveness and co-operation within a business. Not only does it allow employees to feel good about the work they do, but it also allows for a positive influence on the business performance too. 

Here are our five effective tips for boosting your workplace productivity: 

1. Increasing employee breaks can increase employee productivity 

Encouraging your employees to take more workplace breaks can ward off stress and burnout, and make them more productive in the long term. Allowing employees time to recharge through breaks in their workday also allows them to stay focused during the day and work more efficiently¹. Finishing work more quickly can provide a huge boost to workplace productivity.

Additionally, employees who feel they have enough time to complete their work are 70% less likely to experience burn out² and will be less likely to need to take time off for their mental and physical health. Encourage your employees to take breaks away from their desks, for example, grabbing a coffee in the staff room, or chatting with colleagues. Opportunities like this help to avoid burnout and can improve productivity. 

2. Provide employee productivity incentives 

A workplace incentive is a reward given to employees to motivate them to work more efficiently. While monetary incentives such as bonuses or commissions can encourage workplace productivity, non-monetary incentives can be just as effective. Incentives can include flexible work hours, increased job security, employee awards and recognition, and even one-on-one time with the boss.  

All of these show that your employees’ hard work is valued and appreciated, and boost workplace productivity. According to a recent survey of North American and European businesses, the most widely used benefit was offering flexible working to improve productivity and staff satisfaction³. A workforce that feels valued and incentivised to work hard is a productive workforce. 

3. Communication is key 

A company cannot boost productivity if it does not communicate well with its employees. Open communication between managers and employees, and between teams, is vital for increased workplace productivity. Managers should be accessible to their employees and able to effectively communicate targets, responsibilities and expectations, as well as listen to feedback provided by workers. In fact, in a recent study, 53% of surveyed employees said they would prefer to receive recognition through regular, private appreciation from management⁴.  

This business management approach helps employee productivity, as employees can see their feedback put into practice and feel directly connected to the company’s mission and goals. 

4. Improve company culture 

A positive workplace culture has been shown to increase job satisfaction, employee retention and motivation, all of which can increase productivity in the workplace⁵. A positive company culture ensures employee well-being is considered and strives for employees to be happy in their jobs.  

Companies with winning organisational cultures have 72% higher employee engagement ratings than weaker company cultures6. Positive work environments embrace a culture where recognition and appreciation are the norms and employees feel truly valued and willing to go above and beyond.

5. Provide quality coffee 

Coffee culture in the workplace has become a preferred way for employees to build relationships with their colleagues, establishing trust and understanding which can be vital in getting cross-departmental projects finished efficiently. As well as being seen as an essential office must-have for some employees, providing quality workplace coffee can enhance creativity, allowing teams to effectively collaborate and spark new ideas¹. 

Increasing workplace productivity is key to increasing your bottom line and giving your company the edge over its competition. By keeping your employee morale and well-being up through increased breaks, providing incentives for hard work, communicating effectively with managers and employees alike, improving company culture and providing coffee and other workplace benefits, you may see a noticeable increase in productivity in the workplace.  

Next, find out more productivity tips for hybrid workplaces and the surprising ways autonomy at work can boost efficiency. 

Sources: 

1. Why You Should Embrace Coffee Culture in the Workplace, Entrepreneur  
2. How to Recognize Burnout Symptoms, Verywell Mind 
3. 50 Employee Benefits and Perks to Increase Staff Retention, Startups  
4. The 2022 UK Employee Recognition Survey, Wildgoose 
5. Positive Company Culture: Benefits and 11 Ways To Build One, Indeed  
6. Company Culture Doesn’t Just Impact Well-Being – It Also Impacts Productivity, Forbes  

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