Like every good leader, you’re invested in helping your employees be their best. You’re dedicated to helping them work both harder and smarter. You want them to give it their all, day in and day out, and help your business shine even as they cultivate their own unique talents.
But you’re stuck on how exactly to do that. You’re already leading by example, promoting open communication, collaboration, and accountability. You’re already putting in the effort to get to know each employee, treating them like human beings rather than resources.
What else can you do?
Quite a bit. Outside of creating a positive workplace culture, there’s a multitude of ways you can send productivity soaring in the office. We’ll go over a few of the easiest.
Create A Comfortable Environment
We all know what the traditional office space looks like. They’re cubicle farms. Row upon row of impersonal, gray boxes, each just barely equipped to allow employees to do their job.
This layout might be space-efficient, sure. But it’s also devastating to employees, as reported by Forbes. The frustration and lost productivity more than counteracts any money you might save on your lease.
Instead of forcing your employees into cubicles, consider an open-concept office. Incorporate lots of greenery, plenty of natural light, and numerous color schemes that are representative of your brand. Plan out several private rooms that employees can use for focused work or collaboration.
Revisit your climate control, as well. Do away with traditional office attire, and ask around about what your employees consider a comfortable temperature for each season. You might also consider spicing up the break room with Internet-connected appliances or other amenities.
Prioritize Wellness
The thing that’s really confusing about our productivity-obsessed culture is that we often push it without giving much care for health and wellness. It’s self-defeating. If it helps, try looking at your body like it’s a smart car.
If you aren’t taking care of the vehicle’s engine, it doesn’t matter what sort of onboard software you’ve got. It’s not going to run at peak efficiency. Instead, it will gradually get worse and worse until it breaks down entirely.
Similarly, if your employees aren’t taking care of their bodies, they aren’t going to be at their best. If they aren’t eating properly, sleeping properly, or getting enough exercise, their minds will be foggy and clouded. Sure, they might still be able to work after a few cups of coffee.
But such work isn’t sustainable in the long term.
Instead of expecting everyone to be tuned-in 24/7, educate your employees on the importance of a proper work-life balance. Provide them with healthy meal options or guidance on how to be healthier in their personal lives. Include a gym membership or access to onsite fitness facilities as part of your workplace perks.
In other words, make wellness – both mental and physical – part of your corporate culture.
Encourage Autonomy
There is nothing worse than micromanagement. A manager who doesn’t trust their employees to do their job breeds nothing but frustration and contempt. Instead of shoehorning employees into strict schedules and frameworks, allow them a bit more flexibility in terms of how, where, and when they work.
Demonstrate that you trust them to get their work done and meet deadlines on their own terms. You might be surprised at just how much harder they work with greater freedom and autonomy. A lazy employee is always going to be lazy, and you aren’t going to change that by micromanaging everyone.
Building a Better Workplace
Accountable leadership. A comfortable, enjoyable workplace. Better health and wellness. Freedom and autonomy. These create happier, healthier, more dedicated employees.
And those employees are more productive and engaged than ever.