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It’s no secret that motivated employees make fewer mistakes, show increased levels of efficiency and tend to
remain with a company longer. To increase employee enthusiasm, small businesses are often looking for new ways
to motivate workers thus increasing overall productivity. Implementing the right technologies into your small
business is one avenue on the path to increased employee productivity, in fact 92 percent of small-business
owners indicated in a recent study sponsored by HP Canada and the Canadian Federation of Independent Business
(CFIB) that increased productivity and efficiency are a benefit of technology in the workplace. Listed below are 10 easy strategies you can implement today to help make your employees more productive. |
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10 Steps to boost productivity: |
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Create a positive environment Regardless if you have two or 10 employees, make each one feel worthwhile and important. Don’t play favourites with your staff. Keep office doors open and let your staff know they can always approach you with questions or concerns. |
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Listen, listen and listen more Employees want managers who listen to their ideas and concerns, so don’t interrupt when they are speaking. Don’t tap your foot or work on something else. Pay close attention to what your employee has to say. |
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Match tasks to talents As often as possible, assign employees tasks you know they will enjoy or excel at. An individual who succeeds at one thing will have the confidence to tackle other projects with renewed energy and enthusiasm. |
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Promote work/life balance Respect lunch time, breaks and after-work schedules. Even the best employees need a break during the day. |
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Give immediate and private feedback When you assign work, ask your employee to check in at the beginning of the project to make sure they’re on the right path. Never criticize them in front of other staff – it’s humiliating and unprofessional. |
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Honesty is the best policy No matter the size of the company, the employee grapevine can quickly spread potential troubling news such as downsizing so talk about these concerns with employees as early as possible. If you are honest about what’s going on in your business, they will in turn be honest with you about what’s worrying them. |
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Work hard, play hard Do something nice for the people who work for you. Treat the office to a pizza lunch or take everyone to the movies. Reward hard work with an unexpected day off or by closing the office early on a random Friday afternoon. |
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Modernization Notebook PCs, PDAs and other forms of modern technology can be your best friend. Modern technology allows employees to have access to extensive resources and timely information. |
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Provide Incentives Incentives can be something as small as a gift certificate or something more substantial such as a performance-based bonuses or salary increases. Giving out “employee of the month” awards will go far in motivating employees. |
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Acknowledge contributions Take the time to praise employees for a job well done, preferably in front of their co-workers. If you’re a manager in someone else’s business, make sure the boss knows about the contributions of your team on a key project. When people on your team do well, the owner will see you as being an effective motivator. |
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