The 10 Office Productivity Killers and How to Overcome Them

It’s no secret that the rise of technology and automation has changed the world around us, especially for businesses. If you’re one of the many people who have keen insight into this changing landscape, you would definitely agree to the fact that running a business is a lot different than it was a few years ago.

There is no doubt that this change has brought many new, exciting opportunities for both entrepreneurs and employees, but at the same time, it poses challenges that you may have never heard of. Now, in my opinion, these challenges are a hindrance to workplace productivity and the best way to overcome these challenges is to take them head-on.

In this article, I’ll highlight some of the biggest office productivity pitfalls along with tips on how to overcome them. Follow these simple tips to stay productive at work, no matter what.

1. Poor onboarding process

Onboarding and training processes are an integral part of a successful business. The way new hires get introduced to their bosses and coworkers is a deciding factor in how they’ll perform in the future. Now, when onboarding goes wrong, it not just affects the performance of the new hire but it will also influence the performance of the team.

Solution: Create a strong onboarding process and evaluate it regularly for improvements.

2. Informal communication

When every member of your team is moving towards a different goal, productivity will suffer. Unstructured or informal communication is a major factor behind this problem. It creates a communication gap among employees which prevents them from working together as a team and achieve the desired targets.

Solution: Consider using a productivity tool that brings all your team, tasks, and project communication at one place.

3. Poor delegation

Successful delegation is not just about telling people what to do. It is a well-planned and well-thought process that saves invaluable time and motivates employees to deliver their best work. Failing to delegate responsibilities adequately among teams can have an adverse effect on a business. It can create frustration and confusion among employees which will prevent them from focusing on their performance.

Solution: Know each of your team members strengths and delegate responsibilities accordingly.

4. Excess workload

Excess workload among employees is quite common these days. Employers often expect their employees to work for longer hours and accept greater work responsibilities without understanding that it might lead to circumstances that reduce their productivity. Remember, more work doesn’t necessarily guarantee quality or increased level of productivity.

Solution: Don’t tackle numerous things at once. Schedule your tasks based on priorities and get them completed more efficiently.

5. Unstructured meetings

Anyone who is even remotely related to the business world would affirm that fruitless meetings are the biggest productivity killers at the workplace. Now, what makes things even worse is that companies are conducting a number of these ineffective meetings without realizing that they are wasting most of their valuable time which could be easily spent on productive things.

Solution: Keep your meetings short and invite fewer people. If possible, discuss your agenda in advance over group chats and discussions.

6. Poorly allocated resources

There are many ways to be more productive at work. One of which is effective resource management. Planning your resources across various projects and tasks involves a lot of thinking and planning. Taking things lightly or just dropping resources across tasks can lead to numerous problems. A project being behind schedule or over budget is just the start, underestimating the importance of resource planning can make your business fall down the road.

Solution: Map out your resources and fairly distribute them across tasks based on their priority and due date.

7. Lack of time management skills

In today’s fast-paced world, it is imperative that you create a clear plan and know exactly how your time is spent across various activities. If you are not able to do that, there will be chaos and you’ll definitely battle for office productivity.

Solution: Track how much time is being spent on tasks by each team member and tell them how they can manage their time in a more productive way.

8. Underestimating the power of tech tools

The evolving technology has brought many new opportunities. Within this realm, we have also found digital tools that make things even more interesting for the business world. Unfortunately, there are a few companies that fail to understand how effective these tools can. When employed properly, these tools can help you enhance your productivity and performance with a little or no investment.

Solution: Stay up-to-date with the latest technology trends. Do a little research on the latest project management tools. Find out what’s best for your team and your business.

9. Unnecessary office politics

Nothing kills office productivity more than employees wasting hours in unnecessary politics and mindless gossips. Having a little chit chat or a few jokes to lighten up the moods is absolutely okay every once in a while. But things can go out of hand if these fun conversations turn into long and pointless discussions.

Solution: Cut down on office politics and promote a sophisticated, professional work culture.

10. Lack of appreciation and encouragement

Money is not always a priority for employees. A majority of employees have admitted that recognition and appreciation are some of the added benefits they expect when they are working for a company. Remember, job recognition is important for maintaining a pleasant and productive work environment. If employees don’t get appreciated or valued for their work, they feel less committed to the company which further affects the overall productivity of the organization.

Solution: Keep track of every employee’s performance and appreciate them for a job well done.

So, what’s your biggest office productivity killer? What techniques or tools do you employ to overcome them? Please share your experiences in the comments below.

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