- Start by identifying your company’s values and then integrating them into your corporate culture.
- Promote a sociable atmosphere where people genuinely like to be at work as opposed to clocking in and out with no social interaction whatsoever. Managers should be able to delegate with ease, empowering team members to take ownership of projects.
- Make sure managers are not passive-aggressive and are reasonable when it comes to compensation packages.
- Keep your employees informed about company changes or major milestones that might affect their livelihood—this is where social media tools come into play.
- Encourage professional development for employees by offering seminars, conferences, online workshops, and more.
- The workplace can also benefit from environmental factors such as lighting, furniture arrangement, and facilities upkeep. Workers are less likely to have a positive attitude if they are working in cramped spaces with dim, so change up their surroundings now and then.
- Hiring the right people is another key step in creating a positive work environment. While this sounds simple enough, it can actually be quite challenging since not everyone understands what you are trying to achieve.
What environmental factors can help or hinder productivity?
FACTORS THAT MAKE A DIFFERENCE
A research study conducted by Harvard professor Teresa Amabile revealed these environmental factors that most contribute to workplace productivity:
1. The Ability to Set One’s Own Priorities
High-performing employees are self-directed, and setting one’s own priorities can be a great way to keep one’s morale up when tackling tough projects.
2. Feedback
Acknowledging both good and bad performance is helpful in keeping people invested in their work.
3. Ability to Make Decisions
For the best ideas to surface, employees need adequate discretion when it comes to making decisions that fall under their area of expertise.
4. Autonomy over Task Choice
The freedom of choosing which specific project represents the best use of each employee’s unique skills is another factor that increases engagement and productivity on the job.
5. A Cohesive Social Network Within the Organization
An environment where employees feel connected to one another can help foster a healthy work ethic and positive results for all involved.
FACTOR THAT HINDER PRODUCTIVITY
Employees are more likely to perform poorly if they feel their employers do not value creativity and autonomy.
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Job Insecurity
The inability to count on long-term job security — either because of company downsizing or layoffs due to poor performance — can be stressful for employees. This is especially the case when an employee has young children, mortgages, or other financial concerns.
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Lack of Autonomy
Rules and policies that hinder organizational flexibility will lead to lower levels of productivity.
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Slow Decision Making
When decisions are delayed, so too is the implementation of those decisions, which can cause employees’ morale to plummet as work piles up during long wait times.
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No Creative Leeway
If employees are not afforded opportunities to use their best skills, they will likely feel unproductive and de-motivated.
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A Rigid or Artificial Work Environment
When an organization tries too hard to control its image, it may create a sterile work environment that doesn’t attract top talent and makes people want to work elsewhere.
There are multiple mental and physical factors that come into play when it comes to productivity in the workplace: morale, perception of job security, and satisfaction with an employer’s vision all contribute to how much effort is put into one’s work and how productive that person becomes on the job.
Implementing changes to increase productivity
Implementing changes to increase productivity in the workplace is a gradual process.
- Start with yourself and recognize what in your office isn’t working, then decide on a plan of action for improvement.
- Next, take into consideration how satisfied your employees are with their workload. If they’re overloaded, find suitable ways to reduce their workload while keeping them motivated and productive.
- When it comes to the morale of your employees, be sure to implement a system that rewards hard work and creates an environment where everyone feels like they’re working toward a common goal.
- Implement changes such as increased autonomy and input when it comes to decision making and offering creative opportunities for employees to use their
Evaluating the results of your efforts
Evaluation involves assessing the effectiveness of the changes you implement in your workplace.
Ask yourself how satisfied employees are with their job responsibilities now compared to before the changes were implemented.
Consider whether or not your employees feel better about their workload, and judge whether or not they are more productive on the job now than before.
Lastly, the impact you’ve had in terms of morale in the workplace should be considered. If employees feel better about their work and are more satisfied with their job overall, then your efforts to improve productivity have paid off!
Have any questions regarding the topic “Creating an Environment for Peak Performance In the Workplace?” Feel Free to comment down below.
Also Read: How Teams Can Better Collaborate In A Virtual Environment
Also Read: Indicators of a Healthy, Successful Company Culture