At VersaTel Solutions, our goal is to help you work smarter, not harder. We came across this great article on the website Small Business Trends and just had to share some of their tips on improving workplace efficiency. They wrote “Workplace efficiency means getting work done with the least amount of time and effort wasted. While many factors can contribute to or hamper efficiency, implementing a few key changes can increase productivity, improve workplace efficiency, employee satisfaction, and overall workplace culture.” These tips work for remote workers as well as in-office staff.
Start with the Workplace
A positive working environment directly influences employees’ productivity and efficiency, so it may be time for a workplace makeover.
- Cover those drab white or gray walls with a coat of productivity-boosting color such as red, blue, yellow, or green. Find the right shade and intensity to strike a balance between muted and overwhelming.
- Keep the office comfortable, not too cold, and not too hot—between 68- and 70-degrees F is optimal. Extreme temperatures can be distracting.
- Replace traditional furniture with ergonomically correct chairs and desks. Employees can’t be expected to be efficient if they are in pain from hunching over their desks.
- Update computers, software, and other equipment. Outdated office devices and software slow down production and frustrate workers.
Offer Flexible Work Schedules
Most companies discovered the benefits of remote working when the pandemic forced workers to stay “safer at home.” Meetings were video conferenced, projects were turned in online, and employees saved time by not commuting.
Offering remote work and flexible schedules to employees who want to continue with their pandemic-created work environment shows workers you trust them away from the office. Content workers will reward you by working smarter and harder. Plus, you’ll save costs on office utilities.
Realistic Goal Setting
At some point, we’ve all been guilty of setting impossible goals for ourselves and possibly for our team members. Although setting objectives is essential to success, it’s also vital to not set ourselves and employees up for failure.
Before you establish deadlines, talk to your team about what they can reasonably accomplish in a specific time frame. Asking for input can be incredibly eye-opening and give you insight into possible problems you may not have considered. It often can help to break a project into smaller components or outsource some processes to improve workplace efficiency.
Outsource to Improve Workplace Efficiency
You may think doing everything in-house saves money and makes your business more independent. The truth is outsourcing certain business operations can free you and your staff to take on more clients and focus on revenue-generating activities. Tasks such as website maintenance, social media marketing, and accounting processes can be easily outsourced and will likely be better handled by experts in those fields.
We agree with Small Biz Trends! Outsourcing is one of the best ways to increase efficiency. The experts on our staff can help with tasks and processes that take up a lot of your time. Contact us to find out how we can help you.