Newsletter
March 2021 Newsletter
Productivity in the Workplace
As we head towards a co-working environment once again, employees and employers may struggle to shake some of their home-office habits, or even battle with squeezing their workload into a working day as so many of us failed to define boundaries between work and family life.
To help you re-develop some positive office productivity habits, here are our tips:
Prioritise MIT’s
Start each day by defining what must be achieved and what can wait. It’s so easy to jump straight to the quick or more “fun” tasks first, however if you have an urgent task hanging over your head it’s always better to tick that off your list. Then you can feel a little lighter as you work down your remaining list.
Each day start with a MIT (most important tasks) list that takes precedence over anything less urgent that pops up during the day.
The Morning WIP
The morning stand-up meeting, also known as the morning WIP (work in progress), is popular among many businesses – especially in an open plan office environment. The morning WIP consists of a 15-minute whip around including each member of the team. In an open plan environment, a team can simply stand at their desks or convene in a shared space.
Each team member goes through their MIT’s for the day and commits to what they set out to achieve. It’s a great way to hear what others are working on and to remind each other of important tasks, meetings or deadlines for the day.
Keep Meetings Short & Sharp
According to WorkPlace, 67% of employees say too many meetings stop them from getting their best work done. A short meeting is a good meeting, or better yet, think hard before booking a meeting. It’s important to only include essential members, and as always, be respectful of staff member’s deadlines and how a meeting may affect them in completing their MIT’s.
For essential meetings it’s important to have a meeting agenda. The host or organiser of the meeting should be responsible for keeping the meeting on track and on time. Allocate a certain number of minutes for each topic and move on when the item is covered.
Take Breaks
Encouraging staff to take breaks boosts morale. A popular theory is to encourage leaving the office by offering longer breaks for gym or exercise. Often you will find staff members return recharged and motivated to push through the afternoon with greater efficiency.
Another method is to abide by the 80/20 rule. At least one fifth of your day should involve a screen break, quiet time and leisure time. Staff burn out is evident for those who fail to break their task orientated focus regularly.
Lastly, don’t forget to reward staff for their hard work. According to Workplace, 78% of workers say recognition makes them more productive – so as a Manager or Employer be sure to recognise and reward as a key component of boosting office productivity.