The best businesses are the most productive; as this enables everyone, from senior leaders to apprentices to make the most of their time. However, if you’re skating by on inefficient practices, productivity may seem more like a myth than something you experience on a regular basis.

With that in mind, here are some top tips that you can use to heighten productivity within your business! 

• Invest in project management software. Project management software, such as SharePoint project management, is an essential tool in heightening productivity within any workplace. This is because it can be used to streamline your practices, automate redundant tasks and ensure employees remain on track.

• Figure out what is standing in the way of productivity. The key to resolving any issue within your company is to determine why your business is struggling. After all, if you fail to get to the root of the issue, the changes you make to boost productivity may not have the results you desire. For example, if poor productivity is the product of outdated equipment, setting your team daily challenges may not be the best way forward. 

• Focus on employee retention. Employee retention is vital in ensuring your business remains productive – as an empty seat at the office not only costs you money but time and energy too. After all, the rest of your employees must then pick up the slack. As a result, employers looking to heighten productivity must be able to reduce staffing gaps – and the easiest way to do so is to encourage employee loyalty and retention. Thankfully, this doesn’t need to be difficult, as it often comes down to respecting your team and providing them with opportunities to thrive personally and professionally when under your leadership. 

• Prioritze your tasks. If you are looking to get the most value from your day, you need to ensure that you are spending each minute wisely. One way in which you can achieve this is by writing down a list of tasks you must complete at the start of each day, and priortizing them based on deadlines or overall importance. This will help you decide which tasks need working on and when allowing for a more constructive work day. Having a clear daily plan in mind also reduces inactivity and boredom as you’re provided with a clear structure to follow. 

• Eliminate redundant meetings. According to a recent study, “71% of meetings are considered unproductive” and unnecessary. As such, you should work to eliminate redundant meetings, so that your employees can better spend their time elsewhere. A general rule of thumb is that if the information can be conveyed in an email – it should be. Another way to combat this issue is by hosting longer, but less frequent meetings. This way, you can group any conversations into one session. 

• Ask for employee feedback. As a business owner, you may not be able to view your practice through a critical lens, due to the fact that you are proud of the work you’ve achieved. While self-confidence is a useful entrepreneurial skill, it could mean that you stick with tired, outdated practices as you don’t think change is necessary. As such, one way in which you can combat low productivity (and other problems within your business) is by asking your employees for feedback. For example, you might want to ask them about the changes they would find beneficial or useful. You should ensure that this feedback can be provided anonymously however, as some employees may otherwise be unwilling to speak up. 

• Outsourcing. Outsourcing is an excellent way to improve productivity within your business, due to the fact that it frees up your employee’s schedules, reducing their workload and stress simultaneously. Furthemore, there are various parts of your business you can outsource, depending on your team’s skills and abilities. For example, while your team may be great at designing new products or launching marketing campaigns, they may struggle when it comes to managing your finances and accounts. By outsourcing an accountant, you’re taking this task off their hands and ensuring that any finances are handled correctly.

• Provide employees with incentives that boost morale and productivity. Providing your employees with performance or target-based incentives is another useful way in which you can boost productivity. However, you should be mindful of the way in which you apply these techniques, as productivity can quickly drop if the incentives are a ‘one-off’ scenario. It could also lead to an overly competitive workplace. Despite this, there are smart ways to offer employee incentives that work.