How To Improve Employee Productivity

In the age of multi-tasking, we need to constantly look for ways to improve employees productivity at work. It is our role to maximize our employees skills, talents and potential so that we can provide them with a working environment that is conducive for efficiency.

Proper scheduling and assigning of tasks is a great way to improve your employees performance and output. Here are some tips that you may want to follow:


• Match Tasks with Peoples Energy Level

  To some extent, provide employees with the leeway to schedule their tasks according to their energy level. Thus those who are early starters can schedule client calls in the morning, while the more sedentary work, like report writing, or business analysis in front of the computers, in the afternoon. Allow employees to figure out their work preferences and let them develop a schedule around it. If they are able to get the mix of tasks that works for them, this will improve their productivity.
  

• Help Them Prioritize and Avoid Procrastination

  Make sure your employees know what your priorities are so they can schedule their tasks in accordance to what you need them to finish first. Give them clear and reasonable deadlines so they can prioritize their work. This way, they will not procrastinate because they know what needs to be done first, who needs it, and when it is needed.
  

• Consider Flexible Schedules

  Consider the idea of allowing flexible schedules in the workplace. If planned properly, employees do not all have to be at the office at the same time as long as they all log in and complete the 8-hour workday. This flexibility can help reduce floor traffic, workplace stress and tension resulting to more focused work.
  Thus, if some employees want to skip the morning traffic rush, some of them can elect to come earlier than usual, say 7:30am and leave by 4:30pm. Others can come in later in the morning at around 9am and leave at 6pm to complete the 8 hour work day. What is important is that you have a clear schedule as to who comes in at what time, and that this schedule is known throughout the entire workforce. This is to avoid missed deadlines or missed appointments.
  

• Invest in Good Scheduling Software

  To facilitate task prioritization and proper scheduling, invest in a reliable scheduling software. Good scheduling software will allow your employees to input their proposed schedules against other peoples availability and schedules. It makes it easy for them to negotiate for shifts among themselves, to switch or swap schedules, or to request particular shifts or activities.

Scheduling software also allows employees to plan the usage of facilities, rooms, equipment and other resources. All these are captured in a database for easy tracking and recording. It will also keep you updated and alerted of any changes over time thus giving you the heads up if you need to do management intervention. Through good scheduling software, you spend less time solving scheduling challenges and spend more time on important business matters.
By combining all the practical tips with relevant and appropriate technology, employees have the opportunity to contribute positively to the business and thereby increasing the business prospects for sustainability and growth.

Last updated, 11 August 2014, 18:36