We have all experienced those workplace atmospheres which have a certain buzz about them and where you can be sure a great deal of productive work is being carried out. If this is the environment you want to attain in your business, how best can you go about bringing it to fruition?

It is important to recognize firstly that vital to productivity is employee engagement.  If employees are committed to the business and they feel their work is valued they are more likely to achieve better results. What then are some of the ways we can foster this engagement?

The Environment

To function efficiently in their roles employees need a comfortable and welcoming environment. This should be a space which is clean, clutter free, at an ambient temperature and which has access to rest areas where drinks and snacks can be consumed. The availability of necessary equipment, such as computer hardware, printers, photocopiers and any specialist equipment employees need to carry out their job, is vital.

A good example of business environments are serviced offices, these provide administrative efficiency, high-tech equipment, breakout areas and the potential for staff to network and build strong bonds. Try to build some of these aspects into your office space if you want to increase productivity.

Goal Setting and Accountability

Employees perform best when they understand their unique role in the organization and how best to succeed. This means setting realistic, achievable goals and offering support whilst avoiding micro-managing. Staff need to feel accountable for tasks, but also rewarded and recognized for a job well done.

Leadership and Communication

A productive workplace is one where everybody is pulling together in the same direction. This entails effective leadership and strong communication from the top down. A business should have a mission statement which outlines the key purpose of the company. It is vital to imbue every part of business life with the essence of that mission. Disjointed communication from departments, and even individuals, who are heading in diverse directions do not make for a productive workplace.

Effective communication with employees starts during induction training and should be reflected in all policies and procedures, memos and even in motivational talks from senior management.

Team Building

A happy environment is a productive environment and this can be fostered by building strong bonds between team members. An element of challenge and competition can be a good thing, especially if this is implemented through pitting different teams against each other to see who performs best. However, it also needs to include an element of balance and to recognize the achievement of all, not just those who come out on top or who have the most visibility. For example, a sales team will probably get the most recognition if targets are met, however it has taken a wide range of people, including marketing, human resources, finance and administration staff to help reach that level of success, and they need to be equally recognized.    

Time Management

Productivity can decline when a culture of endless meetings takes over. Whilst it is important meetings are held to decide what needs to be done, it is vital these don’t descend into interminable gatherings where little is achieved. Much can be learned from the so called ‘scrums’ which evolved in software development companies. These were short meetings, usually of around 15 minutes and which often happened while everyone was standing up. Their purpose was to divide up actions, make sure team members were accountable and then everyone moved forward in blocks of time until the next meeting. While you need not take things quite that far some of the principles are sound, whatever your business environment.

Implementing these five key areas in your business will ensure productivity increases in tandem with your employee engagement. Employee engagement also leads to better staff retention, increased sales and a workforce happy to act as your ambassadors, a positive outcome all round.