Productivity intertwines with everything. It matters in business, but it also matters at home. The right level of output keeps the interdependent business components humming along. It also hits the individual’s work-life balance sweet spot. There are days when individuals don’t feel 100% and their output reflects it. When it becomes a trend, it’s time to shake things up.
The following are five ways to improve your workspace productivity.
1. Track Time it Takes To Complete a Task
Some workspaces let individuals know how long it takes to complete basic tasks. Other workspaces provide individuals with more freedom as long as they produce quality output.
If you receive the freedom to determine your productivity, spend a few weeks timing yourself completing several basic tasks. Once you reach a solid conclusion on time management, work within those results going forward. Then when you receive tasks that require more creativity, you’ll have the time available to you and still produce quality output.
When you have trouble completing tasks within their allotted time, consider switching things up. For example, complete tasks that are detail-intensive, long, or flat in the morning, or during the hours that you feel your best.
Improving workspace productivity means getting through all tasks promptly.
2. Skip Multitasking
For several years, individuals heard that multitasking increased productivity. You could save time by brushing your teeth in the shower, some said. Somewhere along the line, professionals discovered that multitasking was not ideal after all.
If you focus on more than one task at a time, you end up slowing yourself down. You overheat yourself and there’s a negative impact on your memory.
To improve your workspace productivity, skip multitasking. Focus on one task at a time. Since you know how long each basic task takes to complete, remain within those time constraints to optimize your output.
If focusing on one task at a time feels monotonous, take breaks at optimal points. When you return, the goal is to feel refreshed.
3. Reduce Distractions
Advertisers are continually coming up with new ways to deliver their message because consumer attention spans continue to shrink. One study found that attention spans dropped 25% in the last several years to eight seconds.
One reason attention spans are shrinking is overstimulation. There’s so much information tossed at consumers, it’s turning them away from it.
In the workplace, electronic devices, such as smartphones, distract workers and slow them down. Before smartphones and social media, computer games like Solitaire distracted employees too.
To increase workspace productivity, remove distractions. Keep in mind that everyone’s different. What distracts one person doesn’t distract the next. Be honest and change your space to boost productivity.
4. Gather the Best Tools and Equipment
Living in 2021 means having access to the best workspace tools and equipment. There is no shortage of productivity software, online communication tools, and tech devices to boost output.
If you work in your company’s accounts receivable department, you spend your time keeping track of outstanding debts and incoming payments. The software allows you to automate several steps including sending out payment due date reminder letters and notifications and also it helps you to learn more about digital workspaces.
You may encounter clients that have trouble paying, which impacts the company’s cash flow. There’s a solution for that. Consider looking into invoice factoring.
5. Avoid Micromanaging
Individuals who reach executive, management or team lead status did so because they possess skills, knowledge, and seniority. Once you reach one of those positions, it’s tempting to oversee every single step your team completes in any task.
To help your team improve their workspace productivity, avoid micromanaging.
Those who lead teams in any capacity should have confidence that each member is in their position out of merit. Consider how you reached your position and assume that the members reached theirs in the same manner.
Thus it’s not necessary to micromanage.
It makes sense to prevent team members from spinning their wheels aimlessly. If they received thorough instructions or you’re trying to maximize their skill sets, it’s best to let them complete their tasks accordingly.
Micromanaging adds stress to the work environment. Instead of increasing productivity, micromanaging decreases it.
Conclusion
The best way to improve your workspace productivity is to know thyself. Some tactics work for some individuals, and others don’t. Test out the above tips and measure the results. Otherwise, you can always evolve them into a personal plan that works for you.
