Employee productivity is key to any successful organization. When employees are productive, the company benefits in a number of ways: increased output, higher morale, and reduced costs, to name a few. In order to ensure that your employees are as productive as possible, you need to lead by example.
Here are four tips for improving employee productivity through setting a good example:
Set The Standard
As your team leader, it’s important to set the standard for what you expect in terms of productivity. For example, your employees will likely follow suit if you constantly work late nights and weekends. Alternatively, if you make a point of taking breaks and leaving on time, your team will be more likely to do the same.
Make sure you set the tone for the type of work environment you want to create. For example, if you want your employees to be productive, make it clear that this is your priority and model this behavior yourself.
If possible, try to avoid working excessive hours yourself. This sends the message to your team that they need to do the same to succeed. Of course, there will be times when putting in extra hours is necessary. However, try to limit this as much as possible and ensure that your team knows that you don’t expect them to do the same.
Communicate Expectations
It’s not enough to simply set the standard; you must also communicate your expectations to your team. Make sure that everyone is on the same page regarding what you expect from them regarding productivity.
If possible, try to avoid setting unrealistic targets. This will only lead to frustration and disappointment on both your part and your employees’ part. Instead, focus on setting achievable goals that will challenge your team but allow them to succeed.
It’s also important to provide regular feedback so that your team knows how they are doing. Let them know when they are meeting or exceeding your expectations and offer constructive criticism when they fall short.
Set Realistic Goals
In order to be productive, your team needs to have something to work towards as mentioned by CEO and entrepreneur Jozef Opdeweegh. Make sure that you are setting realistic and achievable goals for them to strive for. Again, it’s important to avoid setting unrealistic targets. This will only lead to frustration and will ultimately hinder productivity. Instead, focus on setting goals that challenge your team but are still achievable.
It can also be helpful to break down large goals into smaller, more manageable tasks. This will make it easier for your team to see their progress and stay motivated. Finally, make sure that you provide regular feedback so that your team knows how they are doing. This will help them stay on track and focused on the task at hand.
Encourage A Healthy Work-life Balance
It’s important to encourage a healthy work-life balance for your team. This means that they should feel like they have time for both their work and their personal life. Employees feel like they are constantly working can lead to burnout and resentment.
Make sure that you provide opportunities for your team to take breaks during the day. Encourage them to use their vacation days and offer flexible scheduling options when possible. Finally, try to avoid sending emails or expecting work to be done outside of regular business hours. This will only serve to erode the work-life balance of your team further.
It’s important to lead by example if you want to improve employee productivity. Make sure that you set the standard, communicate your expectations, and encourage a healthy work-life balance. By following these tips, you can create an environment that is conducive to productivity and will ultimately benefit both you and your team.
