It’s the most common of all business problems: wasted time and procrastination. But what’s behind these productivity drains? Though it’s easy to blame decreased productivity on individual employees, the problem is almost always systemic and it falls on upper management to set things straight.
 
Too Many Tabs
 
Working on multiple projects can be overwhelming and multitasking is infamously bad for productivity. Rather than helping you get more done, it causes employees to make more mistakes and miss crucial details. One way to reduce this mental overload, then, is by cutting back on the number of active tasks any employee is assigned at once. Cognitive experts describe this as closing some open loops.
 
If the nature of your business requires employees work on a larger number of projects, another option is to encourage clear prioritization. Employees should identify larger “loops” that require more time or those with pressing deadlines. Once they have a clear set of priorities, they’re less likely to waste time shuffling between tasks.
 
Using programs like Evernote can help your team organize digital notes and keep research for each task centralized – essentially putting each loop away until it’s needed. For ongoing projects, the ability to upload documents, add links, and keep tasks segregated can reduce stress and multitasking significantly.
 
Good Tech, Bad Tech
 
Technology is both a great way to prevent procrastination and a primary source of wasted time – just ask anyone with an out of date computer. In one survey of UK employees, for example, half said old computers limited productivity and another 38% said that newer technology would help them stay motivated. This includes not just new computers and better internet connections, but also better software for managing tasks and interfacing with clients.
 
Not only can technology help employees complete tasks, but it can also help management identify when and where they’re wasting time. Since 70% of employees admit to wasting 30 minutes or more each day due to boredom, lack of incentives, or simple procrastination, there’s a clear need for better time management. By using tracktime24, employers can collect data on procrastination hotspots and help team members use their time more effectively.
 
Strategize Around Stress
 
At the end of the day, what sets high performing organizations apart from their low productivity competitors? Ultimately, it comes down to the ability to support employees through stressful situations by providing growth opportunities, ensuring sufficient staffing levels, and by making learning and development priorities for all team members. While this might sound like piling on added responsibilities, developmental support is central to stress reduction because it provides employees with the necessary skills to handle anything that comes their way.
 
In addition to providing learning opportunities for employees, companies need to recognize growth and achievement if they want to sustain employee engagement and reduce stress. The same team member who might feel overwhelmed by a task when they aren’t supported or recognized can be motivated and excited when they know everyone else is standing behind them.
 
Enhancing productivity is a top priority for most managers, but that doesn’t mean you should just keep pushing harder. Balancing your employees’ needs and giving them the tools to step back, see the big picture, and prioritize as an individual and within their teams may be where your resources are best spent.