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How To Boost Efficiency In Your Business

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by Lewis Robinson

Getting the most out of your employees can sometimes seem like a challenge and simply asking for their best isn’t always enough. There are some new trends in business that are helping managers boost employee efficiency, helping them to meet more challenging productivity demands.

By exploring some of these options, you may find new ways to enhance efficiency in your own business.

Decisions.

Traditionally, all decisions are left up to managers and supervisors. This may work for larger decisions that affect the organization as a whole, but it can have negative effects on some departments or groups within the company. By letting employees have a say in the decisions that affect their own duties, you can boost overall efficiency and morale. This especially helps when dealing with difficult co-workers, because it helps them feel understood and heard.

Gamification.

It’s a new word, but not a new concept. The idea is to make the workplace environment more like a video game, in that incentives are earned for achieving specific goals. For instance, some companies offer additional days off for perfect attendance. The awarded days off can be added up in a PTO tracking software, allowing you to keep a better handle on who has time coming to them. Other incentives include:

  • Free meals – buying the employee a lunch
  • Lazy days – Allowing the employee to come in late on a given day
  • Gifts for Service – Revive the traditional complimentary gift for exceptional service
  • Bonus – Offer bonuses for efficiency-boosting ideas

Remote Working Options.

Opening up to remote working policies is helping more businesses save money, maximize efficiency, and boost employee morale. In allowing employees to work from home, where possible, you’ll save on the resources those employees would use in the workplace. Instead, they’ll be taking their breaks on their own time, using their own computers and printers, and paying for their own electricity. They will be happier as well, because they won’t be paying daycare and they can run their errands as needed. They can also organize their responsibilities to the company to get more work done in the comfort of their own home.

Throw Out Seniority. 

Everyone knows it, but they’re usually afraid to say it. Seniority doesn’t work. It forces companies to pay raises and bestow promotions to people who sometimes haven’t really earned the recognition. Instead of striving to do better, the long-time employees will typically do just enough to stay out of trouble. Conversely, instituting a policy in which promotions and raises are earned compels every employee to work harder and smarter. This creates a more productive workforce and can help weed out those employees who really aren’t making the grade.

Automation.

Although it is viewed as a great trait to possess, multitasking in the workplace has become frowned upon by many business leaders. The reason being that attention is divided between multiple tasks simultaneously, which slows down overall productivity and increases the chances for errors. Additionally, multitasking is rarely necessary anymore. We have new technologies, apps, and devices that can take on the more menial tasks in any workplace. By alleviating your employees of these burdensome and tedious duties, they can give greater attention to more important duties.

Training Opportunities.

Many business managers view the training of employees as an impediment to efficiency, but the opposite is really true. For instance, cross-training employees can help when you end up short-staffed and need someone to fill in for a missing employee. Others will already know the tasks associated with the job, so they can jump right in. Additionally, providing regular training on new ways of doing things can help your employees become better at doing their own jobs. It allows the group to see the “big picture” of the workflow. As employees understand their job in relation to the rest of the office, they begin to understand how to improve their work.

Working to improve the environment for your employees and helping them to feel more appreciated can go a long way towards boosting overall efficiency. When employees feel valued and respected, they’re more apt to contribute more fully to the success of the business. By implementing just a few new practices, you may see your company’s productivity increase significantly.

 

Lewis Robinson is a business consultant specializing in social media marketing, CRM, and sales.  He’s begun multiple corporations and currently freelances as a writer and business consultant.

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