The start of a new year is a perfect time to take stock of your personal goals and priorities, encompassing everything from financial health to personal fitness.
It’s also an ideal occasion to take stock of your team’s goals, and to implement new strategies to facilitate productivity in the workplace.
Whether you’re leading a team of administrative personnel or a fleet of truck drivers, there are a number of practical steps you can take to create a productivity mindset, paving the way to a more fruitful, successful year.
Invest in Project Management
One of the most common impediments to productivity is the feeling of being overwhelmed. If your employees feel like there’s a lot to do but they don’t have a clear sense of where they should start, the effects can be paralyzing.
That’s what makes project management so important. Project managers can help create a clear structure of priorities for your team members, reminding them of what’s urgent, what’s important, and what can be left on the backburner for a while.
Capture these goals in writing, making sure everyone on your team can access them. Also reiterate them often, voicing your goals and noting your progress during team meetings and huddles.
Set Clear Goals
If you want your team members to work more efficiently, it helps to remind them of what they’re working for.
Set clear, big-picture goals for your team, including aspirations for the coming year or even the coming five years. But also break down those big-picture goals into smaller, more manageable steps. Ensure your team members have something they can work toward in the coming quarter, even the coming month.
Clear priority structures help everyone work more efficiently, without the acute feelings of stress.
Encourage Breaks
At first this may sound counterintuitive, but one of the most important ways for your company to get stuff done is by providing team members with permission to take breaks.
The scientific research on this is clear and overwhelming: People work more and they work better when they also invest some time in their mental and physical health.
Don’t just tell employees that they can take breaks, but model it for them. Ensure that leaders also set clear boundaries, leaving the office at a reasonable time, not emailing over the weekend, and allowing themselves time to eat lunch and move around each day.
Provide the Right Space
One of the most concrete things you can do to help employees work more productively is to make certain they have the right kind of work environment. The specifics might look different from one company to the next, but a few relevant questions you might ask include:
- Do our team members need private work areas, or does it make sense to have flexible/communal work spaces?
- What kind of hybrid or remote work options will be most advantageous for our team?
- What kind of technological ecosystem is required for employees to work most productively?
- How can we use color, natural light, and other factors to promote mental wellbeing during the work day?
Set the Tone for a Productive Year
There’s much that you can do to start the new year on a productive note. With questions about ensuring your workspaces are set up for success, don’t hesitate to contact the Corovan team today. We have more than 75 years of experience in office logistics and are always happy to share more about our breadth of expertise.