10 Proven Techniques to Increase Productivity in the Workplace

Every company needs to have goals aimed at increasing productivity in the workplace. The more productive your business, the easier it is to increase profits and improve business relationships. Here are some of the most important strategies for increasing your business productivity.

1. Don’t Forget to Take a Break

You don’t have to be busy every minute of the entire workday. In fact, overworked staff can cause fatigue and burnout, which in turn leads to poorer results. Therefore, one of the steps to improve productivity is occasional breaks. With 10- to 15-minute breaks, allow your team to recharge and then feel refreshed when they get back to work. Larger technology companies even have rest rooms with ping-pong tables to offer its employees a space for (active) rest and fun at work.

2. Stick to the Deadlines

Studies have shown that setting and committing to deadlines is extremely important to improve productivity, as this proves reliability; otherwise, the company may lose both partners and suppliers if it does not meet the agreed deadlines. Part of running a business is thus taking responsibility for ensuring that goals are met as planned.

3. Avoid Unproductive Meetings

Another way to increase productivity at work is to avoid planning events that don’t achieve much, such as staff meetings. It’s one thing to have important news you want to share or the need to discuss a strategy, but planning meetings to discuss topics that can be communicated via email can reduce productivity. However, because we live in the age of technology, you can conduct such meetings via video call.

4. Don’t Multitask

Multitasking was a big part of the end-of-last century work ethic as an attempt to meet or overcome quotas. Many companies now use tools to automate productivity and manage multiple tasks at once to save more time focusing on core business functions. But by doing more than one thing at a time, your team can make more mistakes by focusing on too many tasks. Companies are much more productive if employees are focused on a concise to-do list, or even just one single task.

5. Make the Most of Your Commute Time

Employees who ride public transportation can take the time to review projects or reply to emails on their phones. You can also take time to think about how to make your work more efficient. On the other hand, if you’re driving to work, listening to music or podcasts can help you get ready for the workday ahead. Certain types of music can calm an individual and help them focus – so it is good to allow your office employees to listen to music through headphones as well.

6. Forget About Perfection

It is important to remember the cliché “no one is perfect” as it is unrealistic to be perfect in all aspects of your business. Your business can only be as good as your technological resources. You will always be surprised by new competitors, so focus on consistency and delivering the product that the market wants. Only with consistency can you ensure the success of your business.

7. Take Active Breaks

Exercise is an important part of maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Sitting at a desk all day is unhealthy and can reduce the motivation and energy of your employees. Your team should be encouraged to get up and stretch or exercise during breaks. You can also organize various team building events, where employees not only get active, but also socialize and potentially make new friendships.

8. Be Proactive

Being proactive and going beyond what is needed to limit, reduce or eliminate future vulnerabilities is a great strategy. Companies that do not take the time to proactively prevent future risks may find themselves in a difficult situation when they actually occur. For example, computer companies would take a proactive approach by building a strong defense against cybercriminals.

9. Try Out 90-Minute Time Cycles

One of the most overlooked tips for work productivity that can lead to higher impact is to create 90-minute work sessions divided by breaks. Within 90 minutes, each employee should make every effort to complete the task, even if they do not finish it. This should be followed by an active break, which will fill the employees with energy. Creating a stream of 90-minute sessions followed by short breaks is enough time to establish a rhythm and complete tasks without getting burned out.

10. Decorate Your Office

Learning productivity in the workplace involves physically and visually pleasurable work. By creating a well-organized and tidy office, a workplace can become a pleasant space for every day. Employees will feel more comfortable in the office, less stressed and more productive. One way to maintain a healthy work environment is certainly to create a cheerful atmosphere in which everyone feels valued and motivated.

Consistently assessing your team’s performance and areas of improvement will further help increase overall productivity in the workplace. While there are a number of tools that aim to simplify the workflow, after all, as a leader in your organization, you need to be there to support your team. Remember – the more satisfied your employees are with the pace of work, the atmosphere and yourself, the better results you can expect!