A productive workplace is important for a company to thrive. However, there are a number of common issues that your employees may encounter that will end up affecting their daily output and efficiency. Here are some of the most common performance problems in the workplace and what you can do to combat them.
Inefficient time management
Good time management is one of the most important components of any business, no matter how big or small. Poor time management can lead to a lack of focus, missed deadlines, and poor quality of work. Ultimately, this will end up impacting your business in the wrong way. In that case, you need to make sure that your employees are making the best use of their time by providing them with the right technologies to streamline their workload. Workflow software such as Masterflow allows for quick and simple document retrieval so that employees can find the relevant documentation and information in a matter of seconds, rather than having to spend time reading individual documents to find what they’re looking for. If you’re a company that’s still struggling under the weight of physical paperwork, our next point is definitely worth a read…
A lack of space
One of the most common problems found in growing companies is a lack of space. Take a look at the space you have available and consider whether or not there’s anything you can do to increase it. If your company is still dedicating a lot of space to physical documentation, for example, you might want to consider a digital document management solution that will allow your important documents to be stored in the Cloud. At the same time, an office that has an open floor plan can sometimes be distracting for certain employees, therefore, it might be necessary to introduce an area of quiet retreat for them to work without any interruptions.
Restrictive technology
If your employees don’t have the right tools to do the job, then how do you expect them to complete work to the best of their ability? In fact, recent research has found that poor tech is one of the biggest factors in workplace negativity. Technology is supposed to allow your employees to work more efficiently, not to hinder their performance so if you have slow computers and old printers that break down more than they do their job, it may be time to invest in something more modern. These days, many businesses are choosing multi-function hardware that can save space, time and money.
Inadequate training
While it’s true that companies usually won’t hire candidates without the skills necessary for the position, your business will have its own unique set of systems and processes that they will need to get to grips with before they can work as well as you expect them to. A lack of training can lead to errors (sometimes costly) which will, in turn, lead to employees that are anxious and unhappy with their position. Make sure you have an established training system in place to teach employees about any changes in policy or how to use new software that you introduce into their daily schedules.
A lack of feedback
When it comes to the workplace – ignorance is certainly not bliss. Employees that fail to be told what they do well and where they can improve will, understandably, become less productive. The ability to give constructive criticism is an important management skill and a key role to play in workplace productivity. While you may not be able to avoid bad hires every now and again, it’s still important to give employees a supportive work environment so that they can be encouraged to be more productive.
