Managers and team leads can always institute ways to further improve the productivity of their workplace, and at the same time, increase worker morale. Some of the best ways to improve office efficiency don’t require sweeping, systemic changes but rather small implementations of encouragement strategies.
Give Regular Feedback
There’s something new that can always be taught, and there’s always room for improvement in one’s work. When working individually, employees may not notice their own shortcomings in their daily workflow. Without someone there to point out that they can optimize how they do their work, then the work will never improve.
Be Fair and Open
Offer employees regular feedback on their work performance and give them insight into what they’re doing wrong. Criticism without suggestions for improvement is largely useless, so time must be taken to show workers different means of completing projects.
Digitize Documents
Having physical documentation has its benefits, and some documents must be in physical form for legal purposes. But in most instances, converting documents to their digital forms will facilitate faster workflow. When work documents can be accessed remotely through electronic devices, it saves on the time spend recovering files.
Reduction of Clutter
Another of the many benefits of going digital is a decrease in physical clutter of files. Drawers and filing cabinets can become overstuffed and important documentation can run the risk of getting lost in the shuffle.
Encourage Breaks
As counterintuitive as it may seem, having workers go on regular breaks will increase their performance and can increase their work output. A constant workflow throughout the day with little to no breaks will only result in mental fatigue. Employees will begin to lose focus on what they’re working on and lose motivation to produce quality work. With breaks, though, they can mentally recharge and then come back ready to tackle their work.
Breaks Counter Exhaustion
Promoting quick five-to-ten-minute breaks throughout the day will go a long way to helping employees focus on their work projects and produce better work. Keep them from becoming stagnant or unsatisfied with their performance by giving them quiet and stress-free moments to collect themselves for the work ahead.
The Tools and Mentality To Succeed
Giving your workers the necessary tools to complete their job—whether it be constructive criticism or a more organized and accessible way to obtain documents—is at the core of how to improve office efficiency. You need to meet their needs and give them the opportunity to improve upon their work and support their efforts of growth.
