Pick Up the Speed! How To Encourage Your Team To Work More Productively

Understanding that punitive measures not only bad for team morale, but does nothing to address the root of the problem, is a first step to encouraging those who work too slowly to make more of their day. Read on to see the steps you can begin to take!

OPEN UP DIALOGUE

The first step is always to simply approach the individual and ask. Having an informal check-in is an easy way to identify the problem. Perhaps the individual is a perfectionist, spread too thin, or experiencing issues with their personal life, it’s best to hear it from the person her or himself before jumping to conclusions.

In order to facilitate open and honest discussion, your questions should steer closer towards “how can I help” rather than “why has your performance been [X]?” Also, make sure to check in regularly in order to keep track of their progress, and show that you’re invested in their success.

WORK WITH THEM

While we tend to see our management styles as either micro-and laissez-faire, it’s important to keep in mind that effective staffing sometimes requires you to adopt both when dealing with specific members of the team.

Establishing detailed timelines and prioritising tasks for individuals who have trouble completing them on time is sometimes necessary to give them the right push. Remember: investing the time to get to know, and help to train and grow talent in your company is invaluable in the long term.

FIND OUT WHAT THEY’RE GOOD AT

We all have to do things we don’t want to do at work, that’s a given. But being mindful of your staffing by taking into account what the team member wants and likes to do can greatly improve their productivity and the company’s overall. The point to highlight is that each individual should feel fulfilled by the task they’re doing, and when they’re happier and more satisfied with their work, the more likely they’ll perform tasks with efficiency and confidence.

CREATE A WORK ENVIRONMENT THAT SUITS THEM

Often times, it’s not the individual’s inability to prioritise that causes them to work slowly, but the fact that they may be too distracted to do so. For instance, some individuals take longer to refocus on a task, so having to answer calls while they need to complete something may not be the best condition for them to work in.

Giving them the space to work on one task at a time is likely to benefit their productivity and the company’s as a whole. While you may want your entire team to be great multi-tackers, the reality is that multi-tasking is not a good thing at all.