Though improving productivity in the workplace can be very beneficial to companies, it is not always the easiest thing to do. More people working for more hours does not result in more productivity. Business productivity is not measured by the number of hours you work but is measured by the work you put into those hours. This fact became more evident in the recent pandemic. When the pandemic hit, most companies shifted to the work-from-home model and something interesting happened. Overall productivity went up significantly since 2009 in spite of a reduction in the hours worked and people losing jobs.
Working from home boosted productivity because people spent less of their day doing unproductive things like commuting and there were fewer distractions socializing with other employees
The responsibility for increasing productivity lies with both the organization and its employees. For companies, this could mean investing in new technology, tools, or making changes to the existing workflows. For employees it means getting more organized at work. Let’s see how to improve productivity in an organization and how to increase productivity of employees separately.
Strategies to improve productivity in businesses include
1. Adopt flexible working
In the last two years of the pandemic the workplace has undergone a drastic change. Many companies were forced to adopt the ‘work from home’ model where employees experienced the freedom of flexible working for the first time. They were able to cut down the time on office commutes and be in more control over their work-life balance. A survey of 1,000 U.S. adults showed that 39% would consider quitting if their employers weren’t flexible about remote work. Sticking to a rigid work schedule can have an adverse impact on business productivity.
2. Leverage modern technologies
One of the best business productivity tips is to make use of modern tools and technologies. Cloud solutions like Clariti and Office 365 can empower your users with amazing capabilities at an affordable cost. When your workforce has access to some of the best tools, your team will have the power, agility, and freedom to work on the things that matter most. Don’t let outdated tools impact your productivity adversely.
3. Connect dispersed workforce
Since the hybrid work model is here to stay, companies are looking at smaller physical office spaces and increasing the mobile workforce to save on overhead costs. In the hybrid model, companies get access to a wider pool of well qualified talent due to the absence of geographical barriers. But in order to connect this diverse workforce, companies should invest in mobile-friendly technologies to boost collaboration and business productivity.
4. Reduce online meetings
One of the most effective ways to increase productivity in a business is to use video conferencing. Video conferencing has seen a 535% increase for workplace meetings in 2020, and the value of the global video conferencing market in 2022 is estimated at $6.03 billion. Though online meetings are important for companies (numerous studies have shown that video meetings improve productivity by 50%) to communicate and collaborate on different projects, it is also true that frequent, lengthy, and unnecessary meetings can eat into productivity. According to Harvard Business Review, it takes at least 15 minutes to become productive each time after a break.
5. Incorporate employee engagement strategies
One of the tips to increase productivity in a business is to increase employee engagement. Low employee engagement is a universal problem for organizations of all sizes. A recent study found that just 15% of employees are ‘engaged’ at work. Financial compensation alone is not enough to motivate employees. Employees are likely to perform better when their feedback and views are welcomed. When the well-being of employees is maximized, productivity goes up automatically.
6. Unified communications
Many organizations use multiple apps for their team communications. This creates communication silos, and a significant amount of team members’ time is spent searching for information rather than doing productive work. Given the level of information being generated on a daily basis, this is highly inefficient. A survey points out that almost 20% of the business time – the equivalent of one day per working week – is wasted by employees searching for information to do their job. One of the best ideas to increase productivity at work is to use a unified communication solution like Clariti. Clariti is a business productivity app that brings all emails, chats, calls, to-dos, and documents…in one app and automatically links related items in a subject-chat.
7. Invest in training and development
Investing in training is one of the best ways to increase productivity in a business. Since the nature of the job market is fast evolving, companies must invest in upskilling their staff to use the latest technologies so that they can do a better job and be more productive at work. When companies express their willingness to invest in developing their staff’s skills, it sends a strong message that the management is committed to the team’s growth and development, which will inspire them to work much harder.
8. Automate repetitive tasks
Another great idea to increase productivity at work is to identify the tasks that are repetitive and automate them. For example, in marketing, using automated tools for drip email campaigns and social media posts could save a lot of time that could be used for other productive work.
9. Create a comfortable work environment
Creating a comfortable work environment for employees can increase productivity at work. Companies should invest in ergonomic furniture to reduce stress on the body, especially for those who spend a long time at their desks.
10. Improve processes and systems
In addition, companies should continuously evaluate and improve their processes and systems to eliminate bottlenecks and inefficiencies that can hinder productivity. This could involve implementing new technologies, streamlining workflows, and simplifying procedures. Finally, companies should prioritize employee well-being by promoting work-life balance, offering health and wellness programs, and addressing any issues that may contribute to stress or burnout.
Employee strategies to improve productivity in businesses include
1. Stop multitasking
Multitasking doesn’t save time. Instead, it often results in unnecessary distraction and disruption of work. While we tend to think of the ability to multitask as an important skill for increasing efficiency, the opposite may in fact be true. It is always better to focus on one task at a time. A lot of studies have shown that attempting to do several tasks at once can result in lost time and productivity.
2. Make your mornings productive
Morning time is the most productive time of the day and don’t waste your morning hours on unnecessary tasks. One of the best ideas to increase productivity at work is to spend at least 15 minutes listing out the tasks that are most important for you and delegating the least important tasks to others and reviewing them weekly.
3. Create a To-do list
Using a to-do app like Clariti lets you create to-dos that are linked to your emails, chats, and documents related to that to-do. Later when the to-do is triggered, all you have to do is look at the items related to that to do in one place to understand why the to-do was created in the first place.
4. Take breaks
Taking some time off in the form of breaks can add fun, relaxation, and entertainment to your job and increase productivity at work. Various studies have shown that prolonged attention to a single task can hinder performance and taking a break has a direct impact on boosting your productivity. Using work time to exercise may actually help improve productivity, according to a study published in the Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine.
5. Keep a tab on emails
Email can consume more of your time than many people realize. McKinsey Global Institute estimates that the average worker spends 28% of their workday processing emails. That’s about 2.25 hours of non-productive time. Don’t check your emails more than 4-5 times a day. One of the best tips to increase productivity is not to keep reading and replying to emails as they come in. Instead, fix a time to respond to emails.
6. Reduce distractions
In the workplace you may face frequent distractions from emails, voicemails, or phone calls. During work hours, turn off your social media and smartphone notifications and concentrate on important tasks.
7. Hold stand-up meetings
There’s some evidence that standing meetings can result in increased group performance and productivity. That probably explains why agile meetings are gaining in popularity and they are preferred over other lengthy and unproductive sit-down meetings.
8. Use chat apps
Though communication is necessary for any business to grow, teams should try to restrict email usage for internal communications especially sending back and forth messages on the same topic. Another great idea to increase productivity at work is using a communication app that supports online and offline messaging. It can save everybody time and make communication go faster.
9. Performing job duties to the best of ability
Employees are responsible for carrying out their job responsibilities effectively and efficiently. This means completing tasks on time, producing quality work, and meeting or exceeding performance expectations. By doing so, employees contribute to the overall productivity of the workplace.
10. Collaborating with colleagues
Effective collaboration with colleagues is one of the best productivity tips for 2023. This includes communicating clearly, sharing knowledge and ideas, and working together to solve problems. By collaborating effectively, employees can streamline processes, eliminate redundancies, and generate innovative solutions that increase productivity at work.
How does Clariti subject-chat help to increase business productivity?
Clariti subject-chat can help to increase business productivity in several ways:
1. Organized communication
With Clariti subject-chat, all the communication related to a particular project or task can be organized and stored in one place. This makes it easy for team members to quickly find relevant information and reduces the time spent searching through emails, instant messages, or other communication channels.
2. Efficient collaboration
Subject-chat allows team members to collaborate more efficiently by having all relevant information related to a particular task or project in one place. This can help to eliminate confusion and reduce the need for back-and-forth communication, ultimately saving time and increasing productivity.
3. Enhanced focus
Clariti subject-chat can help team members to stay focused on their tasks by allowing them to filter out irrelevant communication and focus on the subject at hand. This can help to reduce distractions and increase productivity.
4. Better decision-making
With all communication related to a particular task or project in one place, team members can make more informed decisions based on all available information. This can help to increase the accuracy and speed of decision-making, ultimately leading to better outcomes.
Overall, Clariti subject-chat can help to increase business productivity by improving communication, collaboration, focus, and decision-making among team members.
Conclusion
Increasing business productivity in 2023 requires a focus on efficiency, collaboration, and effective communication. By leveraging technology, implementing best practices, and empowering employees, businesses can create a more productive and successful work environment. The use of tools like project management software, time-tracking software, and collaboration platforms can help streamline workflows and improve communication.
Additionally, creating a culture of accountability, setting clear goals and expectations, and providing regular feedback can help ensure that everyone is working towards the same objectives. Ultimately, increasing business productivity requires a commitment to continuous improvement, ongoing learning, and adaptability to changing circumstances. By implementing these productivity tips for 2023 and strategies, businesses can position themselves for success in 2023 and beyond, ultimately achieving their goals and driving growth in their respective industries.
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