Managing a group of individuals in a way that supports the overall efficiency of the team is no easy task. Any organization’s success depends on the collective work of all of its employees. Consider a few things you can do to help your team grow increasingly more productive — on an individual basis and collectively.
Set clear goals. One of the most important things a leader can do to encourage employees to work hard is providing goals. It’s essential that these goals be concrete, realistic and time-sensitive. They should be something that is measurable and that can be assessed within a reasonably short amount of time. This way, staff members have a tangible objective to work towards each day they come to the office.
Regularly post results. Another way to boost your team’s productivity is to consistently inform employees of the outcomes of their work. After all, how can they adjust their approach to certain tasks if they don’t know whether they have met, exceeded or fallen short of a goal?
There are practically countless ways you can share results with your team. Some managers may wish to post a hard copy of data in the office, whereas others may prefer to provide this information via email or the company site. For instance, if you manage a sales team, you could look into sales dashboard examples that allow you to organize the number of sales made, the number of total customer interactions and other statistics. However you choose to share these outcomes, be sure to do so on a weekly, monthly or quarterly basis so employees receive feedback in a timely fashion.
Provide incentives. When workers meet the goals you set, it can be beneficial to offer some sort of reward. These incentives can be handled in myriad ways. For instance, you could provide incentives that affect the whole team, such as holding an office party or ordering lunch for everyone. Alternatively, incentives may apply to individuals who complete the most work that period. You could even devise a point-based system that allows employees to earn prizes on a graded scale. These individual incentives may offer everything from a monetary bonus to a paid day off.
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Offer useful resources. One reason that a team may not meet its goals is that staff members need additional tools to work with. These resources may include training sessions, up-to-date technology and even the opportunity to ask questions. It’s critical that employees feel they are supported and have what they need to accomplish the tasks they are assigned. Otherwise, your team may grow frustrated, dampening productivity.
Encourage cooperation. Much of staffing involves teamwork and collaboration, so it’s essential that you create an environment that fosters this sort of cooperation. One way to accomplish this is to adjust the physical layout of your office. Try providing spaces that encourage coworkers to sit together rather than in separate cubicles. Additionally, your staff may benefit from team-building activities. These can be as organized as sharing personal fun facts on a bulletin board in the workplace or as simple as a social gathering after work.
Make time for breaks. One final way to increase your team’s efficiency is to be generous with break time and days off. While this may seem to be counterproductive, people are usually able to focus much better when they are well rested. One way to encourage staff members to take advantage of their break time is to provide a break room or similar space that they can relax in while at work. Additionally, if your team works especially long hours during a certain season, consider offering a long weekend once the hectic period is over.
Your team is what enables your company to thrive, so make sure each individual is thriving, as well. With a few changes to your staff’s normal routine, you may be able to boost their productivity and make work more enjoyable at the same time.