Productivity is one of the main drivers of business success. The more stuff your team gets done, the more likely you’ll be able to grow your business. However, there are a number of business practices that derail productivity and progress.
Here are four of the most common productivity killers and their corresponding solutions:
- Workplace Interruptions
Office interruptions can waste up to 31 hours a week or 40% to 60% of total employee hours. This amounts to nearly $1 trillion dollars lost by the US economy.
Researchers from the University of California, Irvine found that the typical office worker is interrupted every 3 minutes on average. Moreover, it can take another 23 minutes and 15 seconds to get back on track once focus is broken.
Dealing with workplace interruptions starts with setting rules and guidelines on time management. Devote daily time for uninterrupted, focused work. If it helps, place a Do Not Disturb sign so your co-workers know not to bother you.
Still having difficulty getting some alone time? Take a breather from the office and sign yourself up for an office rental.
- Unnecessary Meetings
Unnecessary meetings cost the US economy roughly $37 billion each year. What is more, many of these meetings lack adequate planning and structure.
Executives say 67% of meetings are a waste of time because many participants aren’t fully engaged. In a study by Fuze, 92% of employees admitted to multitasking during meetings and an additional 49% admitted to doing unrelated work.
Break the cycle by keeping your meetings short, structured, and exclusive.
Each meeting should have a clear cut agenda and a limited number of attendees. Send the agenda at least a day before so everyone’s on board even before the meeting begins and invite only those who absolutely need to be there. Also, keep gadgets off limits to get everyone’s undivided attention.
- Poor Communication
Research done at MIT’s Human Dynamics Laboratory found that communication is the top predictor of a team’s success. Good communication impacted success even more than all other factors including skill, personality, intelligence, etc. put together. Moreover, teams led by good communicators are 44% more profitable and 50% more productive than their less communicative counterparts.
According to Google’s Project Aristotle, the key to good communication is as simple as it gets: be nice.
Keep things cordial in the workplace through positive feedback and constructive criticism. Don’t let a good job go unnoticed: 69% of employees said they were willing to work harder if they were better recognized in the workplace. Also, if you’re the boss, develop a positive relationship with your employees: 74% of employees say a positive relationship with their boss improves motivation and job satisfaction.
Get the whole team together to build trust and rapport. Locations like Common Desk provides office space perfect for coworking and collaboration.
- A Cluttered Workspace
An organized desk helps boost productivity and encourage creative thinking. Declutter your workspace and add interesting elements to keep your mind active and stress-free.
Prevent garbage from accumulating by doing a weekly cleanup of all your stuff. In addition, decorate your desk with visually stimulating pieces such as plants, artwork, photographs, and others. Your brain will thank you for it.
