Improving employee productivity should be a primary focus for all business owners. When productivity drops, the entire business suffers as a result. Your store may notice lower profits, more customer complaints, higher ‘shrink,’ and more technical errors.
Set Goals
One technique that’s incredibly helpful for boosting employee productivity is to set goals. When the company’s goals are clearly defined, employees will have better guidance towards running a successful business Make sure the goals are displayed in an area where employees can easily see them, such as the break room, cash register, office, etc.
Ideally, you should come up with both short and long-term goals for your business. A short-term goal could be something like hitting X amount of sales within a fiscal period or month, while a long-term goal could be to bring in twice as many customers. The goals need to reflect your vision with the business, which in turn serves as a road map for the store’s success.
Recognition Events
Hosting an event to recognize employees for their hard work and dedication will encourage higher productivity levels. During the event, employers can hand out awards to employees who go above and beyond the call of duty. By acknowledging and recognizing employees for their hard work, they’ll be more inclined to strive for excellence in the future.
Focus on Positivity, Not Negativity
If you truly want to improve productivity, focus on positivity and not negativity. Far too many business owners maintain a stern approach towards communicating with employees. Rather than threatening and punishing employees, remain positive in your approach. For instance, you could develop a reward system for employees who meet a certain criteria. If an employee is able to generate 50 sales or leads, give them a gift card, plaque or some other reward. This is an excellent way to keep employees dedicated and driven to excel in their profession.
Remove Distractions
Distractions can eat through a store’s productivity. There’s a fine line between creating a ‘comfortable’ work environment and allowing too many distractions. Allowing the radio to play in the back storage room is usually acceptable, but you probably don’t want employees browsing their Facebook page during work hours. Go through your workplace and identify possible distractions to determine whether or not they should be removed.
Allow For Professional Growth
Employees are more likely to work harder and strive for excellence when they are given the ability to move in the company. Let your employees know that professional growth is available in your company, and maintaining good work ethics and productivity will lead them a more lucrative position.
