6 Ways to Engage Employees and Boost Productivity

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For companies to thrive in the digital age, they need employees that commit 100% to the cause. For this to be realised, employees need to feel motivated, charged with energy and ultimately, be fully engaged in their role.

However, with a recent study claiming that 85% of the global force are either not engaged or actively disengaged at their place of employment, optimal productivity levels are potentially not where they should be. As such, here’s six ideas to get your employees motivated to boost productivity.

1. Arrange a meaningful team building trip

While annual trips abroad are becoming more and more common in the Western workplace, it might be worth considering adding a slight twist to the idea. One such example is to take your employees on a cooking holiday.

Not only will this be an excellent opportunity for employees to engage in team building and return from the trip having learnt a new skill, but they’ll feel extra productive knowing that their hard work has been rewarded.

2. Ensure employees are properly trained

Employees that do not have a comprehensive understanding of what they are required to do will ultimately feel somewhat lost and overwhelmed. On the other hand, having employees that are well-trained and knowledgeable in their respective area, can have a positive effect on productivity.

In fact, it is estimated that by increasing an employee’s education by 10%, productivity levels increase by 8.6%.

3. Employees need to be in the right role

When blue-chip organizations take on new graduates, there is an underlying reason why they often rotate job functions for at least the first 6 months – if not more. This allows companies to assess the employee’s true skills and abilities, with the view of ascertaining what their most productive role at the company will be.

Ensuring that employees are in the right role will keep them productive long-term.

4. Reduce distractions carefully

While on the one hand you want your employees to avoid common distractions such as social media, it’s best to avoid an outright ban on mobile usage. A sensible compromise could be to block social media websites on office computers, but allow your workforce regular breaks. By checking their phones on their time, it will ensure that they remain productive when on yours.

5. Improve workplace conditions

Ensuring that conditions are conducive for a productive workforce is of the utmost importance. Something as simple as setting a comfortable office temperature could be the difference between a motivated and energetic employee,  and one struggling to retain focus. 

6. Make sure your employees are happy

While this point might sound somewhat obvious, you’d be surprised how often it’s overlooked. Unhappy employees working in a stressful environment without support is ultimately going to lead to an unproductive workforce.

Not only is it a good idea to let employees know when they perform above and beyond the call of duty, but it’s also wise to to engage in regular, anonymous surveys. If you’re ever unsure, just ask!

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