If you’re like many businesses, no matter the size, you know how frustrating it can be when things don’t go as planned. Did you know that many times it’s because you weren’t prepared or just plain unorganized?
Even if it’s just one, keeping them happy is the place to start for companies with employees. A happy employee will be productive and more motivated to help the business grow. You can take steps to improve existing processes to allow you to be more efficient, giving you better control of day-to-day tasks.
By doing this, you’re able to finish routine tasks in a shorter amount of time without sacrificing quality.
You’ll find when you take some of the steps below, you’ll be able to eliminate some of the time spent on unnecessary tasks and ensure maximum productivity.
Delegate. Delegate. Delegate.
Many business owners are terrible delegators. If this is you, don’t worry, you can do this.
People don’t delegate because the primary reason people don’t delegate tasks is the fear that the person you hand it off to won’t do it as you would.
Yes, there’s an element of risk, but you can reduce this by training one or more people to do it properly. Even better, map it out on paper to be referred to when needed, especially for tasks you don’t do that often.
When you delegate to another person and increase their level of responsibility, this helps improve morale and a sense of achievement.
And, if you are the sole employee, you still don’t have to go it alone. Reach out to a quality virtual services firm that takes the time to get to know you and your company.
Remove Distractions
Do you start checking your social media and then go down the rabbit hole and realize it’s been over an hour? This habit is one of the biggest productivity killers and could be affecting your team too. Ensure clear policies are in place and only allow unrelated work to happen during a break.
Make sure you also set an example by focusing on the fundamental tasks at hand.
The same goes with cell phones, so that work time is just that, for work.
Be Available to Support Your Team
Many times it’s not that your employees don’t want to be high-performing, but it’s that they lack a clear sense of direction. It’s up to you to ensure they have clear direction and goals that are achievable.
You may even want to offer incentives to stay on the right path, and once they reach the desired milestone, give them the agreed-upon incentive.
And very important, let them know you’re there to answer questions and provide support when needed. If you’re approachable, they’re more apt to reach out to you versus doing what they think is correct.
Efficiency is Key
Your business is running fairly smoothly, but there are still many frustrations. Be open to changing how you do things and allow those around you to help fine-tune current systems.
Task lists are also a big help as they keep you on track. Sit down and make a short-term list and then long-term goals. Once complete, prioritize as it’s impossible to do all at once.
Ask your employees to do the same for their daily tasks. When you involve others, you will have more input and buy-in to work towards more efficient processes.
Public Praise is Gold
When one of your employees is doing a great job, reward them with something unexpected like an extra day off, two movie tickets, or their favorite coffee.
This is also a great time to praise them in front of the other team members as it shows you’re acknowledging their hard work. And it motivates others to do the same.
Seek Outside Help
No employees? No worries. Ask for help from a third-party vendor who is experienced and truly cares about the quality of work they produce. Once you begin working together, they’ll learn more about your style and expectations for a streamlined process, which will reduce stress and allow you to focus on your core business.