How to Increase Employee Productivity

The key to productivity is to give an employee a sense of purpose. They come into work every day doing what they would deem 'the same old thing' but if there is a sense of purpose to accomplish 'the same old thing' there will be more productivity. The question is, how do you do this?

Here are 3 tips to increase employee productivity:

1. Daily Task Lists
2. Accountability and Team work
3. Rewards and Incentives

By incorporating these simple tips, and working together with an employee to achieve them, will increase an employee's productivity.

Warning: If a supervisor and employee do not have mutual respect for each other, there aren't any clear cut ways for a supervisor to increase an employee's productivity other than to work on the relationship first. This all rests upon an already good supervisor to employee relationship. If not, one or both will either think the other is taking advantage of them.

1. Daily Task Lists

Make this a reasonable daily task list while also thinking with the 'end' in mind. What is the overall goal of a project at hand? 5 tasks a day and no more. Go step by step with what an employee needs to do and create a daily task list that an employee needs to hold true to. The next day, if a project is pushed back or overlaps current days tasks, attack that task first and get it done before attempting a new set of tasks.

By tracking daily tasks, a supervisor will know where a project is at hand. If tasks aren't accomplished and they start backing up, a supervisor can step in, offer their help (which a great leader does), and gets the employee back on track. This builds a great relationship with an employee and supervisor and together they are accomplishing the 'good' of the department. Both are aiming for a specific purpose instead of an independent purpose (serving themselves).

By accomplishing one, two, or five tasks it represents a 'win' or success. Building up these 'wins' and each minor successes will lead to the 'bigger picture'. The sense of purpose is now ingrained in the employee as a day-to-day accomplishment. Their task lists is being tended to and every time they cross a task off the list they have succeeded every day!

So many times little successes during the work day are overlooked as 'part of the job'. But if they are recognized with a simple act of crossing a task off and saying, "I accomplished it," it will carry on to the next task and the next task; each piece of finished work supports the work of the bigger picture.

Daily goals gives an employee focus - and focus on the job will lead to less distractions - and less distractions leads to more productive work!

2. Accountability and Teamwork

Have employees team up and be accountable to each other and not just to the boss. As a supervisor, assign accountability to the employee and have them be accountable for each others tasks. You'll stay away instead of 'hovering' over them which could lead to insecurity and the dreadful eagle eye over their shoulder. If two employees stay accountable to each other and work together to accomplish their individual goals, more will be produced.

It's not about competition, but if an employee is given the same task as another, and their goals are to accomplish it in a certain time frame, it makes no sense if another can and the other can't. If they are accountable for each others action, they can work together to cross their tasks off the list.

3. Rewards and Incentives

Expecting great results without rewards is an overlooked concept in expecting employees to be highly productive. Incentives to accomplish goals in order to get those tasks done are a great way for employees to engage in high productivity. A pat on the back is a wonderful way to express gratitude for a job well done - but so are other rewards: gift certificates, office lunch, or even a recognition award for a job well done.

The employe is the greatest asset for a supervisor or manager. If this is the case, taking care of the employee, serving them first by following the leaderships role of servitude, will lead to a better workforce and a better workforce will lead to increased productivity.