In a small businesses employee productivity can make or break your business. When employees aren’t putting in optimal effort labor costs go up and cause a ripple effect throughout your business. Here are some pain free ways to help boost productivity in your work environment and protect your bottom line.
Recognition
Employee recognition is one of the easiest ways to boost productivity. Everyone loves to feel appreciated and to know the effort they’re putting in does not go unnoticed. If you don’t already have one, start an employee of the month program where outsanding employees are recognized and rewarded for all of their hard work. Employees who feel appreciated will go the extra mile at work, especially with a little friendly competition in place.
Have fun
Happy employees are productive employees. Here are a few ways you can do this:
-Set aside some time to play some games like dodgeball, pool, poker etc
-Have themed days like monte carlo day, Hawiian shirt day, costume parties etc
-Treat them to pizza or ice cream socials randomly
-Celebrate employees birthdays
-Play music
Having fun at work helps keep your employees happy and loyal. They will want to work hard for you if you show them what a great place it is to work.
Communicate
Communication in a small business should be easy. Let your employees know that you’re relatable and easy to talk to. Make it known that if they have an issue completing a task that they can come to you without being afraid of repercussions. When employees have a hard time doing something and ask for help right away it saves time and effort for everyone. Another way communication is beneficial is you being clear and direct with an employee when something is not done correctly so it can be fixed and the mistake will not be repeated in the future. Touch base with them sporadically if they’re working on a big project and see if they need any insight. Ask for their input often so they feel important and will contribute more ideas in the future. Communication can work wonders for all levels of employees within your small business.
Hire employees that believe in your business
An employee that doesn’t care about the company’s mission is not going to be productive. Make sure the people you hire are enthusiastic about what you do or what you sell. From the first time you meet them make it clear how the company works and what your company values are. You should be able to tell right away if you are on the same page. Employees that love what they’re contributing to, want to see a successful end result, and will work harder to achieve it.
Promotions
Along with showing employee recognition with things like monthly awards, promoting employees that work hard and have earned some rank is a great way to keep productivity booming. When you promote from within, employees will work hard to reach that next level and climb your small business ladder.
Training
Training is helpful in a few different ways. Fully trained employees are capable of doing so much more than employees with little to no training that are learning as they go. When you provide thorough training right off the bat, you get a fully productive employee immediately. Training can also be an incentive if it’s a training that provides them something for their career like a certificate that will earn them more pay etc. Employees will work harder if they know that they are gaining something out of the company profiting from their hard work.
Set goals
Setting goals for employees to reach will encourage them to reach them and do so quickly. You can tie fun into your employee goals by making it a competition. Nothing feels better after hard work, than knowing you’ve met a really big goal and impressed your boss while you did it. It doesn’t hurt that you beat Bob in accounting too.
At the end of the day a productive work environment is better for everyone in the company and your bottom line. Keeping your employees happy and feeling appreciated can go a long way to help your company grow and flourish.
