7 important facts about the productivity of your team

Kenneth Smit editorial | 06-09-2019

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Multitasking is counterproductive

We think we can do it, but we can't. You probably also have members in your team who claim to be able to multitask successfully. It is not impossible, but it would be highly exceptional. Only 2% of people appear to be able to multitask effectively. For the other 98%, attempting multitasking reduces productivity by about 40%. So give your team members clear tasks and ensure focus and priorities, so that multitasking does not take on a life of its own.

Be flexible in your daily rhythm

Are you a morning person or an evening person? Do you suffer from an “after lunch dip”, or not at all? The rhythm of the people within your team can differ enormously. As a manager, don't stick too tightly to the 9-to-5 office hours. Rate your team members on output. If one of your team members does his or her best work between 9 and 11 at night, who are you to argue with that? Where possible, try to take the rhythm of the week into account. For example, Mondays appear to be less productive than Tuesdays.

Sleep and fitness promote productivity

A buyer perhaps, but that does not make it less relevant. Sleep and fitness have a huge impact on your productivity. Up to 30% appears. As a manager, create the right conditions for your team. Encourage your team members to exercise together, during or outside working hours. And if one of your employees has just had a baby, don't punish him or her if he or she starts an hour later so that he or she can still get the necessary sleep.

Don't have too many meetings

Meetings are absolutely necessary, we all know that. However, in our Western culture, and especially in large corporates, we almost turn meetings into a sport. Embrace agile management models in which there are fewer and shorter meetings. And, hold meetings standing instead of sitting, which increases the effectiveness of your meetings.

Apply patience to email conversations

Email is by far the biggest distraction in the office. Partly due to our innate curiosity, we find it difficult to ignore a new incoming email. Handling email has a huge impact on productivity. This is partly our own fault. We expect each other to respond to emails within an hour. If not, we will stand together at the desk and ask 'have you seen my email yet?'! Patience is a virtue in this case. Don't judge your team members on the speed with which emails are answered, but on meeting deadlines and productivity issues.

The manager has influence

You may think that you personally have little influence on the productivity of your team members. Just like a football coach, you can put the right people in the right jobs, but your influence is otherwise limited. Of course, the work must be done by your team, but as a manager you do have influence. Not only by maintaining the correct division of tasks, but also in terms of your personal relationship. Research by research agency Gallup has shown that the relationship between an employee and his boss has a clear influence on productivity. When your team members are positive about you as a boss, they work harder, more efficiently and stay employed longer. In short, it certainly pays off to invest time in building a personal relationship with your team members.

Don't skimp on technology

Technology and technology make a lot possible. They can greatly increase productivity. At the same time, failing technology is one of the biggest irritation factors in the office. A computer that does not work properly is a killer for your employee's productivity. In short, don't skimp on technology. Ensure that your employees can work smoothly and without irritation, both in the office, on the road and from home.

Want to know more about productivity and effective working? Then follow one of ours management training, for example the training time management.

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