How to improve your office workflow
Having a good office workflow isn essential part of running a successful business. If work doesn’t ‘flow’ smoothly, then your workforce will not be as productive as they could be, and your productivity and profits will drop.
To help you maximise your business’ productivity, here are some tips to improve your workflow.
Don’t forget about ongoing training
Too many companies overlook training after the initial hiring stage. However, as time passes, the needs of your business and the roles of your employees may change.
So it’s important not just to ensure that any training is up to date, but that it covers all the requirements of your business – and enables your employees to work at their best ability, with all the skills they need.
Introduce a workflow system
Systems are a great way ton improve the workflow in your office. One popular system is called a Kanban board. Using a Kanban board is a simple way of organising your projects and the tasks that need to be done in your office.
You can sort tasks by things that haven’t been started, work that is already in progress and tasks that have been completed.
On a standard digital Kanban board, there are three columns and various swimlines for the different tasks. You can choose a board design that suits the needs of your team members, and use it to maximise everyone’s skills and strength, and enable team members to help each other on tasks that have not been completed. If you’d like to know more, check out this guide on how to use a Kanban Board.
Improve communication
Every office relies on great communication to run smoothly. So make it easier not just for colleagues to have open dialogue, but for your employees to ask each other for help or report any problems they may be having.
One way to ensure this is having a clear hierarchy so everyone knows who they can turn to when they need support, if this isn’t immediately clear, it can be worthwhile to have management staff attend an intensive in-person course to brush up on vital people management skills. Being able to properly manage people will clearly outline a hierarchy and improve employee-manager rapport, resulting in employees being more comfortable approaching managers with any problems they might have.
Regular office meetings and anonymous staff surveys are also good ways to keep your finger on the pulse of the general feel of the office, and find out what people like or don’t like about working for your company.
Reduce distractions
If you want to increase productivity at work then you need to reduce distractions. And one of the most common distractions at work today is checking our mobile phone and social media. So, while it may not make you popular, banning use of both at work for personal use will help to minimise distractions.
(You can read more suggestions to help reduce distractions in the office here.)
Separate work from home
Having a clear distinction between home and work life helps improve not just your productivity when you are working, but your relaxation and enjoyment when you’re not.
While you can’t always stop people bringing their home worries into work, you can ease the burden and pressure of work when they’re at home (allowing them to return the next day full rested and less stressed). So try wherever possible to allow your employees to leave work at work and get a proper break at home.
How can you boost your office’s productivity?
You might want to try more imaginative solutions. One such idea is using an office fruit delivery service, with the goal to energize your team each morning and get the creative juices flowing.
If you’re not happy with your company workflow or productivity, what can you change? Are your employees motivated and equipped to perform at their best? Or are they frustrated, overworked, stressed and miserable? By making just small changes you can increase your company’s productivity – and cultivate a fulfilled, happy and loyal workforce.
