We live in a world of constant distraction. While we’d all like to zone in and crush our work on a daily basis, we’re constantly switching between screens and tempted by notifications. And, as much as we may want to label this freneticism “multitasking,” we all know that we lose far more time than we’d like doing who knows what.
When you’re managing a team, it’s vital that you take active steps to help your employees focus on the task at hand. Following these eight tips will help you foster productivity and create a positive work environment.
-
Use quality software.
Everyone finds it hard to zone in on the task at hand in our multitasking multi-device world. The good news here is that in recent years, the quality and number of useful tools built to help you block out distraction has grown considerably. Introduce tools like Slack and Basecamp, both of which simplify the process of collaboration, sync information across platforms, and make delegation a breeze.
The most recent innovation in the team productivity space is TopTracker, recently launched by Toptal. The clean, intuitive time tracking app syncs seamlessly across devices and features detailed productivity reports for your team. It’s a great way for you to actually measure how well you’re managing your team’s productivity and where there’s room for improvement. Designed with the needs of freelancers in mind, TopTracker is completely free and is totally independent of any freelance platform.
-
Keep priorities crystal clear.
This first tip is both very simple and very important. Everyone on your team should know exactly what is expected of them and how their responsibilities fit into the bigger picture. Set challenging goals for your team as a whole and for each individual member and make sure everyone knows not only what the priority is, but why it’s important.
No matter how clear you are in setting the priorities, you should also revisit them often. If, for instance, you have weekly check-ins on Fridays, go over how successful your team was in meeting their goals for the previous week before setting the next week’s priorities.
-
Reward a job well done.
Make sure to give credit where credit is due. It feels really good to be praised for your work, and people will aim to get the same positive feedback (or better) for their next project. In fact, studies show that praise from one’s immediate manager and attention from leaders are actually more effective motivators than financial incentives like performance-based raises, stock options, or an increase in base pay. These nonfinancial incentives go a long way toward boosting energy, morale and overall productivity.
-
Hire team members.
Think of your team like a puzzle. Every piece needs to fit together, and not just in terms of the work each member completes. When you’re looking to fill a position, think about how a candidate’s qualities will mesh both professionally and personally with the people you already have on the team. In order to foster a positive and collaborative work environment, it is essential that everyone is a good fit. A great way to do this is to make sure any potential new hire meets with as many members of your company as possible, especially their potential colleagues and boss.
-
Encourage autonomy.
Once you’ve built your team and clearly established priorities, you have to trust everyone to get their own work done. You make a lot more work for yourself if you’re micromanaging all the time and everyone’s productivity suffers as a result. Having to constantly report to you will undoubtedly be a major time suck for your employees and having no autonomy can be quite discouraging.
Letting go of the reins will give your employees a sense of pride and ownership over their work. They’ll know the finished product is very much the fruit of their own labor, which in turn will be a great motivator to do something on time and to do it well.
-
Minimize boredom.
Boredom is the enemy of productivity. It makes people sluggish and discontent with their work and work environment. When most people think back to their first internship, they’re probably remembering the hours spent staring at a clock, twiddling their thumbs, or wondering how many times is too many times to purvue the snack counter. Don’t make anyone relive that experience.
Instead, strive to minimize boredom. Make sure that in addition to setting a clear list of priorities, every person knows what projects they can and should pick up on a rolling basis. Encourage your team members to learn a new skill during slower periods or to or help out with other teams when in between tasks.
-
Offer flexible work schedules.
On that note, it’s inevitable that people are going to have different ebbs and flows when it comes to their productivity. Don’t resist this. In the last couple of years, the freelance marketplace has grown incredibly quickly. 30% of people freelance at least part of the time, which means they’re used to setting their own schedules and know what works best for them. If you demand that your employees all clock in and clock out at the same hour, you’re not only wasting people’s time, you may be making your team a really unattractive option.
-
Make the work meaningful.
According to Lazslo Brock, the Senior Vice President of Google’s People Operations, all of the crazy perks like Google’s fancy shuttles and in-house massages don’t compare to creating a sense of meaning for Google’s employees. “The dirty secret of all these perks is it doesn’t actually retain people or even attract people,” he said. Sure, they’re absolutely a benefit, but at the end of the day, “people want to do something that means something.”
When you can explain to them how even their smallest tasks have real-world impact, that’s when you get their wheels turning the quickest and the most consistently. Adam Grant, a professor of Business Management at Wharton found that when people are able to connect their work to something meaningful, their productivity can increase five-fold.
from Darlene Milligan http://ift.tt/231H2tc via transformational marketing
from Tumblr http://ift.tt/1KfRVw6
No comments:
Post a Comment