10 ways to increase employee productivity in 2009

Posted on 19. Jan, 2009 by admin in Employee productivity tips

WIth the current economic crises, 2009 will most definitely the year to be more productive. Getting more done with less will help to ease some of the stresses and strains. Increasing employee productivity through simple changes in your working habits can impact the bottom line in a major way if you and your team take a disciplined approach to your day.

Here are our top 10 suggestions for 2009 …

1.) Put an out of office message on your email which reads like this:

“Thanks for your email. Today, Tuesday, I only access email 2 or 3 times a day and so may not reply to your request immediately. If it is urgent then call me on…”

Update the message every day. People will soon get the message.

2.) Learn what RSS is and use it

If you need help in understanding RSS, join the free trial here. If it doesn’t make you a better, more efficient business person within hours, then leave a comment below and we will write to you personally to explain more.

3.) Create a list called “follow up”

When someone asks you to complete a task via email or telephone, explain to them that you are adding it to the list. Schedule times of the day or week when you action follow ups. You decide how you run your day. Things will then be back in your control.

4.) Abandon all forms of paper signatures and contracts

Get things contracts and agreements signed faster – avoid delays by going digital. It is legal and seriously cost effective. Take a look at how easy it is here.

5.) Stop spending hours searching for files and data

Stop right now. Take half a day out and reorganise your data if it’s not working for you and if you need more help seek advice on how to do it.

6.) Turn off your email client.

Reach for the Outlook button two or three times a day only. When you’re finished with it, turn it off! Do not become a slave to email.

7.) Talk to your team

When was the last time you looked at how your business wastes time with unecessary process as opposed to unecessary costs, which you’re always doing? Schedule a meeting now and kick off the smoothing process immediately.

8.) Leave the office when things get tough

Go for a walk, run, drive or cycle for at least 30 minutes to clear your mind and give it time to think. You will be more productive and creative when you get back.

9.) Shortcuts can shave hours of a week

Learn some basic PC shortcuts – stop taking twice as long to do things as you should do! Multiply up the time savings across your office and you will be surprised.

10.) Make a promise to you and your team …

… to make 2009 the year to really focus on boosing your company’s employee productivity. Places like this can really motivate you and your team to become more efficient as an organisation for virtually no cost.

Here’s to a productive 2009 for you and your team.

Image courtesy of Hawkexpress