Organizational productivity is a long-term game. That’s your answer.
You need to play it smart. It requires tact, patience, and dedication.
Watch the video to learn more about how to improve organizational productivity:
What is Organizational Productivity?
Organizational productivity is the effectiveness with which an organization uses its resources, including people, digital tools, and time to produce output and achieve its goals and objectives. A productive organization achieves its goals by maximizing its output and minimizing its costs.
Let’s illustrate efficiency and productivity in the workplace through the example of Mark.
Once upon a time, there was a hardworking and diligent employee named Mark. Mark worked at a busy office and was known for his efficiency and productivity. He was always the first to arrive in the morning and the last to leave in the evening, always making the most of his time.
One day, Mark’s boss approached him with a challenge. The company had a deadline for a big project, but there was a shortage of resources, and the team was falling behind schedule. Mark was asked to step up and help turn things around.
Mark sprang into action. He gathered all of the necessary information, created a detailed plan, and assigned tasks to each team member. He made sure everyone was on track and provided support and guidance whenever needed. The team worked together seamlessly, and before long, they had completed the project ahead of schedule.
The boss was impressed with Mark’s leadership skills and his ability to turn a difficult situation into a success. Mark was praised for his efforts, and his colleagues admired his dedication and commitment.
From that day on, Mark continued to be an efficient and productive employee, always striving to do his best and help his team succeed. He was a true asset to the company and an inspiration to everyone who worked with him.
Do all work stories turn into the ideal scenario like this one with Mark?
Not quite. Let’s see how you can make your organization more productive over time by setting an example with these principles.
How to Improve Productivity in an Organization
Working on any of the below individually or as a team over the long run can help you improve the productivity of the whole organization.
Punctuality.
Make time your friend by showing up on time and using timeboxing to work towards your goals.
Generosity.
Share credit where credit is due. Generously sharing credit means saying thank you for the work done without forgetting special effort and effectiveness.
Focus.
Ensure organizational goals align with your life goals in life and build a team that is clear about shared goals.
Advocacy.
Encourage everyone on your team to vouch for themselves so that each member gives their best and the sum of the all bests improves overall organizational productivity.
Presence.
Listen and observe attentively, speak the truth, and allocate time for unwavering team support when needed.
Resilience.
Build your resilience muscle by incorporating the “unpleasant” tasks in your schedule to promote growth because growth requires some discomfort.
Curiosity.
Learn and hire people willing to develop and learn to boost team and business productivity as a whole.
Rest.
Take time off and go on holidays to replenish creativity and don’t ask your team to be available 24/7 to promote a culture aware of toxic productivity.
Integrity.
“Put your words where your mouth is.” Simply, follow through on plans with action.
Team awareness.
Know your team’s limits, strengths, and weaknesses. This will help you put your best foot forward in the long term instead of running out of steam and collectively ending in chronic stress and burnout.
Connection.
Appreciate the value of networking, be it social networks, lead generation, recruiting amazing people, or communicating with coaches and mentors. Search for genuine business connections. In the language of sales and marketing, this would be your dream client.
Audacity.
A crucial step toward improved productivity is embracing fearlessness to do things in a new way when old ways have proven unproductive and restrictive.
Delegation.
Organizations are holistic systems. To branch out and become more productive, someone will have to take the work to the next level.
Eloquence.
Build an organizational culture in which people express themselves clearly and articulate the need for support when necessary.
Risk.
Opportunities come through taking responsibility for novelty. Accept the failures alongside successes.
Expertise.
Know your organization well. Foster team skills and explore ways to do the same things in a new way because that is the key to productivity.
Adaptability.
If you have to switch product offers, adjust your niche, or say goodbye to a client, do it. Don’t let the comfort zone (i.e. fear) stop you.
Containment.
Develop a container structure for your organization to serve you as a tool to come back to when productivity fails. A container is a safety net for your vital resources.
Real work.
Real work refers to activities that contribute to achieving an organization’s goals and objectives, and have tangible results. It is meaningful, value-adding work that contributes to the success of the organization.
Pseudowork, on the other hand, refers to activities that appear to be work but do not actually contribute to the organization’s goals and objectives. It can be busy work, paperwork, or activities that do not have a real purpose and do not result in any significant outcomes.
Freedom.
Instead of establishing myriad new rules for how a job should be done, leave a choice to your team. You may be surprised by the creativity that generates new, more productive solutions to old organizational problems.
How do you put these principles into practice?
Improving organizational productivity requires a focus on optimizing processes, increasing efficiency, reducing waste, and maximizing the use of resources.
If you want to boost productivity and relief your team from stress and too high workload, it is all about structures, systems, clarity, and ownership.
Get free access to the self-managing business blueprint and see how to become hyper-productive with this setup.
self managing business roadmap
Social media platforms are designed to be addictive and can create a sense of FOMO (fear of missing out) that makes it difficult to focus on deep work. Notifications and updates from social media can interrupt work and pull attention away from important tasks.
Additionally, spending too much time on social media can lead to a sense of burnout and mental exhaustion, which can further reduce productivity. Research has shown that excessive social media use can lead to reduced attention span, decreased cognitive abilities, and lower overall productivity.
While social media can be useful in certain contexts, it is important to be mindful of how and when it is used to avoid the negative effects that can come with excessive use. To maximize productivity, it is often best to set specific times to check social media and avoid using it as a form of procrastination or distraction during work hours.
Here are the main five factors that affect productivity:
- The physical environment in which work is done can have a significant impact on productivity. Factors such as lighting, noise level, temperature, and comfort can all affect how well an individual is able to work.
- Physical and mental health can significantly affect productivity. Taking care of oneself by getting enough sleep, eating well, exercising regularly, and managing stress can help individuals be more productive.
- Motivation is the drive that pushes an individual to accomplish tasks. Being motivated to complete tasks can lead to increased productivity, while a lack of motivation can lead to procrastination and reduced productivity.
- The level of skill an individual has in a particular area can affect productivity. Having the necessary knowledge and skills to complete a task efficiently can lead to increased productivity, while a lack of skill can lead to frustration and reduced productivity.
- Effective communication within a team or organization can have a significant impact on productivity. Clear communication helps to ensure that everyone is on the same page and can work together efficiently to accomplish tasks.
Employee Engagement
Studies have shown that engaged employees are more productive, take fewer sick days, and are more likely to stay with their organization. Encouraging employee engagement through regular communication, recognition, and opportunities for development can lead to increased productivity.
Work-Life Balance
Allowing employees to have a healthy work-life balance has been shown to increase job satisfaction and reduce stress, leading to improved productivity. This can be achieved through flexible working hours, telecommuting options, and programs that support healthy habits.
Organizational Culture
A positive organizational culture that values collaboration, trust, and innovation has been linked to higher levels of employee satisfaction and productivity. Building a strong culture that fosters engagement, open communication, and a sense of purpose can help to drive productivity and performance.
- Targets and goals: Provide the team with specific, measurable, and achievable targets to focus their efforts.
- Technology: Implement technology solutions, such as customer relationship management (CRM) software, to streamline and automate sales processes, freeing up time for selling.
- Incentives: Offer rewards and incentives for meeting and exceeding sales targets, to motivate the team and increase their motivation to perform.
- Performance evaluation: Regularly monitor team performance and adjust sales strategies, processes, and techniques as needed to ensure maximum productivity.
- Coaching: Provide one-on-one coaching sessions with team members to help them overcome challenges and improve their sales skills.
- Clearly define goals and expectations: Make sure everyone understands what is expected of them and how their work fits into the bigger picture.
- Implement systems for tracking progress: Use tools such as project management software or team calendars to keep everyone informed and on track.
- Offer flexibility: When possible, allow team members to work at times that suit them best, or to work remotely, which can improve work-life balance and increase job satisfaction.
- Foster a positive work environment: Create a culture of respect, trust, and open communication, and recognize and reward good work.
- Continuously evaluate and adjust: Regularly assess team performance and adjust processes as needed to ensure the team is functioning at its best.
