Top 3 Office Productivity Killers On the Job
According to a new study which polled over 2.000 adults on the topic
of workplace productivity conducted by Ask.com more than 60% of workers
list “noisy colleagues” as the number one reason they don’t complete
their work. Additionally, 40% blame last minute planning meetings and
coworkers stopping by their office – as another huge distraction to
work. Lastly, negativity can squash the entire work flow.
With this information in mind, what can we do to recognize and put a stop to time suckers:
1. Putting the Nix on Noisy Colleagues – Sometime after the 2
pm slump, there are certain employees who drink their Red Bull and take
part in an all out sugar induced high for the rest of the afternoon.
They become louder, more playful with other employees, and less focused.
This can not only rake on the nerves of other employees, it can squash
their productivity as well. So what do you do? As an employer you should
help your employees evenly divide their work day into “before noon” and
“after noon” accomplishments. Let them know you expect certain things
from them and even place deadlines if need be. Pressure to perform often
works as an assistant that helps employees to focus on tasks to a
greater degree. If this doesn’t work, you may need to have individual
talks with the noisemakers. Simply letting them know you recognize their
disruption. This is often all that’s needed.
2. Meetings and Visits Oh My – Picture this. Thirty people
work in your office. Each one stops by and chit-chats with you for 10
minutes once per day. That’s 300 minutes of productivity lost, or five
hours. Next add in an hour for lunch. Now we’re up to six hours lost.
Add a couple of restroom breaks (10 minutes each), a 10 minute phone
call and you’ve got exactly 1 1/2 hours of productivity. So, as
employers, what do we do? There are a few solutions, but one of the best
ways to put an end to wandering time wasting visitors is to
strategically place your office right in the middle of it all, and never
lock yourself up. Yes, it’s true…Our hearts are prone to wander, so are
our feet, especially if we have a tinge of A.D.D. or one too many cups
of coffee. Playing an active role in your office by “heading them off at
the pass” may sound juvenile, but it works!
3. Just Say No to Negativity - You know it, I know it,
–we all know it. Negativity is a killer. It’ll make creativity tuck
tail and run in the opposite direction and it will cause employees to
work up to 50% more slowly. Why? Because negative remarks or attitudes
paralyze us all. When we feel threatened, timid, or beat down, clear
thinking decreases and productivity levels flat line. Want everyone to
pick up the pace? Let them know what a great job they’re doing. Pump
them up with praise and watch how quickly things start to get done.
Do you have an experience with productivity killers in the workplace? We’d love for you to share your story with us.
…And if you’re looking for temporary or full time employees in the following Florida counties, HH Staffing is here for you:
- Hillsborough
- Pinellas
- Broward
- Dade
- Osceola
- Manatee
- Sarasota
- Orange
Call one of our offices today. We’re ready to match you with just the right staff member.
Please join us on Facebook, for updated information on the Florida job markets plus some great management tips https://www.facebook.com/HHStaffingServices. Also please use our Employer Resource Center on our website http://hhstaffingservices.com/employers/employer-resources/