By now, you have realized your business is only as good as the employees you hire. If your employees aren’t performing to expectations, then productivity and your bottom line are going to suffer.

    It’s important to remember – people aren’t robots. Recognizing this is key to optimizing your productivity. If you want to ensure your employees are always delivering their personal best, then take a look at the business environment and get rid of any of the productivity killers found here.

    1. No Understanding of the “Big Picture”

    It’s crucial that you make sure employees understand how their work contributes to the company’s overall success.

    Every company needs to identify components, referred to as key performance indicators or KPIs, to evaluate the success of each person’s position. Show your team members how their work fits into the organization’s overall goals and success.

    Once the KPIs have been identified, then make sure to monitor and measure compliance. Don’t use scare tactics, but let your employees know what the risks are if they don’t meet the set goals, such as losing market share or downsizing.

    2. Improper or Poor Supervision

    If your employee’s productivity has begun to lag, then you may need to take a closer look at the supervisor. In some cases, it’s the manager who’s missing the mark.

    For example, is the manager not transparent or consistent? Do they micromanage or not provide enough supervision? Do they play favorites? Are tasks disorganized and hard to track?

    There are solutions for each of these problems. For disorganization regarding tasks, consider implementing some type of outside tool. If you have ever wondered “what is a Kanban board,” now is a great time to find out. This tool can help you and your team remain organized and assist with communication.

    Be sure to encourage open communication among employees and managers, too. This can help to alleviate most of the issues present.

    3. Poor Communication

    Communication goes both ways. You have to communicate with employees, but you also have to provide opportunities for employees to voice their concerns and opinions.

    If your employees feel like management isn’t listening to them, a common reason is lack of engagement. It’s crucial that you create a safe place for employees to let their opinions be known – regardless of if they are bad, good or indifferent. Also, venting should never show up in employee reviews.

    This may result in you having to establish an open-door policy with managers, human resources or even an assistance program for employees.

    4. Subpar Delegation

    Leaders are well-known for not being able to properly delegate because they don’t want to release control. This results in leaders being overworked, and a workforce with low self esteem and no sense of “teamwork.”

    Most people forget one thing when it comes to delegation: the necessity of trust. It’s imperative that your employee should trust you — the supervisor — and the company. An employee without trust for the firm is likely to become unproductive in the course of time. You can know about things via multiple means, including unofficial sources. Here is an excellent guide on how to build trust with employees. Reducing level of controls and establishing a friendly relation may be one of the potential steps.

    If your managers are always leaning on one person, then that person’s going to become overloaded and the remainder of the team will become disengaged. The employee who is overloaded will become burnt out and eventually join the others who are disengaged.

    5. Inconsistency

    If a team is constantly changing directions or doesn’t value consistency, then it can be because there’s no clear understanding of the group’s role or the vision and goals of the company.

    Rules that are always changing can lead to employees being distracted and no work getting done. Make sure to develop a sense of consistency to achieve goals.

    Don’t underestimate the benefits of the tips found here. By improving productivity in the workplace, you can improve your company’s bottom line. In the long run, this leads to happier employees and higher profits – a win-win for any company.

    Richard is an experienced tech journalist and blogger who is passionate about new and emerging technologies. He provides insightful and engaging content for Connection Cafe and is committed to staying up-to-date on the latest trends and developments.