It’s no secret that employee productivity is a key driver of business success. However, telling your staff to simply “work harder” isn’t the best strategy. IF you want to know how to improve employee productivity, our experts have got you covered.
Here at Damar Training, we believe that investing in your team’s skills and development is crucial. And, one effective way to do this is through apprenticeship training. In this blog, we’ll provide you with eight top tips to create a workplace where staff are truly motivated, engaged, and productive.
What causes low productivity?
If you’ve established that there is a problem with productivity in your workplace, the first step is to understand why productivity has been affected.
Employees could be feeling unmotivated because of:
- Their workload: High workloads can have a real strain on mental health and lead to burnout – whilst employees can perform well under high pressure for a period of time, this isn’t sustainable in the long run
- Conflicting dynamics: In any business, there’ll be disagreements but if conflict isn’t handled effectively, it can lead to reduced collaboration and lower morale
- Poor management: Did you know that 50% of employees who rate their manager as ineffective plan to leave their job within the next year, and only 34% feel motivated to do their job? The role of line managers in keeping staff motivated and productive is critical.
How to improve productivity in the workplace – Our top tips
Once you’ve identified why your workforce productivity levels may be low, the next step is to actively solve the problem. With a focus on helping organisations and individuals with training and development to upskill their staff, take on apprentices and retain employees, our experts have plenty of tips that can help you increase company productivity. Let’s look at them in a bit more detail:
1. Utilise apprenticeship training
Here at Damar Training, we champion the power of apprenticeships. We offer a range of business and professional apprenticeships which employers can utilise to develop their teams. By taking on a new apprentice or using apprenticeship training to upskill an existing member of staff, you’re making an investment in their professional development and their future career. Our apprenticeships provide structured, job-specific training that can support your employees to be effective and productive from day one.
From accounting to travel, an apprenticeship is a great way to develop the knowledge, skills, and behaviours that are needed to thrive in the workplace.
Jane Cordner, Head of HR and Operations at Blanchards Bailey LLP, said:
“We have been delighted to witness the increase in our paralegal apprentices’ knowledge, which they have been able to apply to their work in order to improve their productivity and effectiveness.”
2. Create effective line managers
Did you know that employees who feel supported by their line manager are 3.4 times more likely to feel motivated at work? Upskilling your management team and giving them the tools and awareness to effectively lead and manage their teams will have a significant effect on employee performance. Consider a management apprenticeship which enables team leaders and managers to develop new knowledge and skills and implement them in the workplace in real time.
James Boot, management apprentice at Heathrow Airport, says:
“Having so many great leadership and management resources and subjects condensed into one apprenticeship was amazing. I could put into practice almost immediately most of the techniques and theories I was learning.”
3. Empower your teams
Many leaders in a business think that micromanaging and piling tasks onto employees is the key to enhanced productivity, but in reality, this just doesn’t work. Part of being a good manager is adopting an empowering approach, where you place trust in your employees to have responsibility for their own tasks and day-to-day activities. Empowered employees are much more productive and are more likely to offer fresh perspectives and drive innovation.
4. Encourage flexible working
Flexible working has become increasingly common and offers a wealth of benefits for employees, such as reduced commuting time and a better work/life balance. As an employer, it also brings the benefits of increased employee retention and engagement. Research has shown that allowing staff to work flexibly can actually improve productivity levels. We’ve got some tips for apprentices working from home here.
5. Champion communication
Clear communication is key to any successful business and team. When communication is strong, employees will feel more connected with their colleagues and senior leaders. It prevents misunderstandings, ensures that everyone is on the same page and fosters collaboration. Ways to champion communication could include:
- Regular team meetings
- Transparent updates from leadership
- Using different channels to communicate and connect.
6. Optimise your systems and processes
Even the most productive employees can be slowed down and become frustrated with systems that aren’t fit for purpose and inefficient processes. Take some time to consider if there are ways in which systems and processes could be optimised. Forming a project group which includes people at all levels is a great way to identify and implement improvements.
7. Foster an environment of psychological safety
When employees feel psychologically safe in the workplace, they’re more collaborative and innovative. Psychological safety involves creating an environment in which people can openly communicate, take calculated risks and learn from their mistakes. In these workplaces, everyone’s opinion is valued and fresh perspectives are encouraged.
8. Set clear goals and expectations
A lack of direction is often one of the biggest productivity killers in any workplace. It’s important to set clear and measurable goals for both individuals and the wider team. When everyone understands what they’re working towards and how their work contributes to the wider picture, they can be more focused, motivated, and engaged.
Increase productivity with an apprenticeship from Damar
Hopefully, this blog has given you some tips on how to improve employee productivity. Remember, a productivity slump doesn’t have to be permanent! By using our tips above, you can ensure you’re creating an organisation that’s powerful, productive and positive.
At Damar Training, we’re passionate about the power of apprenticeships. We support our employer partners to increase the productivity of their teams through apprenticeship training for new and existing members of staff.