January 21, 2022

Boost productivity in the workplace

High productivity is the rocket fuel for healthy businesses everywhere. It pushes people forward, and increases job satisfaction. It creates a buzzing atmosphere, and encourages success.

The trouble is, there’s not an unlimited supply. Sometimes we need a boost to maintain momentum. If you’re running on empty, let us give you a few ideas of how you can get back up to speed.

Kick unproductive meetings into touch.

Hands up if you’ve ever left a meeting thinking ‘Gosh, that was so productive! And it lasted exactly the right amount of time.’ No? Well, we don’t blame you. That’s because so much time is wasted in meetings that don’t achieve very much. Either the reason for a meeting is vague, or the wrong people are present. Makesure you keep meetings super focussed, short and with the relevant people involved. We’re not sayings all meetings bad. We’re saying bad meetings are bad. Booo.

Break up your day.

Did you know that we can only stay focussed on work for around 90 minutes before our minds begin to wander? That’s why we need regular breaks throughout the day. What was seen as ‘slacking off’ in the past has now been proven by clever boffins to boost productivity and wellbeing. Just a fifteen-minute break every now and again is a great way of recharging the mind so you can come back to your work refreshed, energised and raring to go. If you’re a leader, let your team know it’s ok to get away from their desk.

Be smarter with smart phones.

We’re all guilty. We promise ourselves we’ll only check our social media for messages, but 45 minutes later we’re lost down some rabbit warren, watching endless videos of cats climbing ladders, old men doing handstands or high schoolkids throwing frisbees off bridges. Let’s say it bluntly: social media sucks productive time out of your day. Try hard to catch-up on this kind of thing during your breaks. And think about turning off notifications on your phone for non-work stuff. You’ll be amazing how much extra time you have to play with.

Use software to plan your day.

There’s some clever software out there to help you get the most out of your day. Planners, calendars, to-do lists… They’ve all been designed to monitor your day so that you can boost productivity. Fill your boots!

Sing their praises.

If you’re a leader looking to reinvigorate your team, then don’t underestimate the power of a good, old fashioned ‘well done’. It may not seem like much, but we all long for praise. This recognition satisfies our need for personal worth. Indeed, praise can actually release dopamine, a natural feel-good chemical. Somake sure you highlight good work with a kind word, a little pay rise or an unexpected gift.

 

I love to help and support people and businesses to achieve their goals, and thrive in an environment that involves problem-solving, working collaboratively, and improving processes and business efficiency.

Our latest articles

Like what you’ve read, view related blogs below