Slumps in employee productivity hurt not only the languishing employee, but also the team and the entire organization. Better management can help boost productivity for both managers and employees, keeping the team thriving and even increasing morale.
Here are five proven management practices that boost productivity:
Use the three-step method for providing feedback.
Most managers know that feedback is essential to good employee work. But productivity increases when managers ensure that feedback is (1) meaningful, (2) constructive, and (3) regular.
Meaningful feedback ties comments to the expectations or requirements of the employee’s job in a concrete way. Constructive feedback isn’t always positive, but it is always thoughtful and phrased in a way that gives the employee a focused set of steps to take in order to improve. Regular feedback should fit the workflow schedule.
Make sure managers have sufficient training.
Direct supervisors and managers need leadership training. They are the ones communicating with the team on a regular basis, and their approach makes a significant difference to the team’s outcomes. Make sure managers have the training and development opportunities they need to lead well.
Find out what support employees need and provide it.
Asking staff what support they need is a powerful way to demonstrate respect for their needs. Providing it demonstrates that their work is valued and necessary. Both qualities are known to boost productivity among staff. Find out what employees need – better equipment, support for a work-life balance, improved skills – and then find ways to provide it.
Don’t be stingy with recognition and praise.
Several employee studies indicate that praise and recognition are more powerful motivators than money. When it’s made in front of the team, recognition also has a “spillover” effect: It improves productivity not only for the honoree, but for everyone who sees that good work will be appreciated.
Lead by example.
Employee engagement increases when employees feel like they are part of a team. One of the simplest ways managers can instill this sense of teamwork is by holding themselves to the same standards to which they hold the team.
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