Improving the productivity of your business is an ongoing process. Many new businesses and even established businesses struggle to improve their methods for creating the most value for their customers and reducing waste. This comes down to a number of things from employee productivity, excessive costs, and organizational systems. How can you streamline your productivity without overhauling your entire business structure? The answer is in one of these 5 methods below!
Method 1: Kanban
If you’ve never heard of Kanban, you’re not alone. Though definitely not a new idea, it has lost traction in business recently which is evident in the overproduction of products that lead to more waste and lost production. In simple terms, the Kanban method is one in which products are delivered continuously as needed. This is a way to help reduce waste will helping teams work together in an effective way.
This method is all about collaboration. Imagine a workflow in which the highest priority items were done first, while there is only a limited amount of work in progress. This is a successful method because it enhances the flow from one task to the next while keeping teams from overcommitting to too much work. When your teams are able to collaboratively tackle new tasks without feeling burnt out, it increases overall employee production!
Method 2: Goal Setting
Another method that goes underutilized is simple: goal setting. How often do your teams get together to discuss goals? Not big company wide goals like increasing sales revenue or meeting deadlines. When setting goals, you need to be clear and realistic. The most powerful goals are those that are short term. These are things you can reasonably accomplish in just a few weeks. Maybe it’s finishing a project early or increasing production. These are things that are easy to measure on an ongoing basis!
Method 3: Automation
How much time is wasted in your company on daily tasks that can easily be automated? It might be helpful to actually count out the hours. Speak to your teams about the tasks they spend the most time with. You might be surprised to learn that they’re caught performing minor, administrative tasks throughout most of the day. These leaves teams feeling a lack of motivation, not to mention it cuts down on productivity. There are a number of workflow automation software out there now that make it easier to streamline your tasks. Switching to manual systems and automated software is a big step in regaining lost time!
Method 4: Employee Flexibility
If you’re struggling to improve your workplace productivity, you might think loosening the structure is the last thing you should do. You’d be surprised to learn that, on average, employees are 12% more productive when they have more choices and freedom. You can add freedom in small ways like offering more vacation time or flexible hours spent at the office, or larger ways like remote working opportunities. When employees feel confident in making their own decisions, they’re happier to dedicate themselves completely to the good of the team!
Method 5: Office Space
Finally, the last method isn’t a method at all, but rather an examination of your current office space. Did you know that where you conduct your business has just as much of an effect on your employees as how you conduct business? There’s research to back up the claim that offices with more natural light lead to greater productivity. You can organize your employees offices in a way that provides ample natural light or uses warmer light bulbs.
Office spaces are also a great way to increase collaboration. While the jury is out on the success of open plan offices, there’s something to be said for coworking spaces and collaborative space. Offering room for employees to switch up their work environment or network with other team members is a great way to improve productivity and motivation!
How will you boost your business productivity? These methods above are sure to streamline your daily tasks, improve employee happiness, and lead to more sales! Overall, it’s important to focus on the wellness of your team and to review your current strategy. Just because it’s worked in the past doesn’t mean it will work in the future!
