Managers and business owners ask themselves quite often how to increase the productivity of their employees and in turn, obtain higher revenue.

Here are a few tips on how to increase their productivity: 

1. Motivate them

Motivation and productivity are connected, so try to motivate your employees by eliminating the motivation killers and increase the career development opportunities, overwork, negative employees, feeling under-appreciated, and boredom.

2. Do not organize too many meetings

Before organizing a meeting, you can always ask yourself if you can convey the same idea or information using emails, short video chats, or maybe phone calls. Sometimes, meetings are not necessary and a waste of time, which can decrease productivity.

3. Stop micromanaging

This can negatively affect productivity and cause additional stress and employees would not like it if they are doubled – checked for everything they do. You can always make a balance and be a hands-on manager and believe in your team and sit aside and give clear instructions, and schedule regular inspections.

4. Give your employees the right equipment

All collaborative and communication tools (Trello, Asana, G Suite, and others) will make your team work more efficiently and stay in touch. Also, there are some time tracking tools like ZoomShift that can help them to stay on track and see how they do on the task.

How To Be Productive All The Time At Work? 

Organization and time management at work can be hard, and you cannot dedicate yourself to some tasks and complete them on time, but with some small adjustments, you can improve your productivity. 

1. Take regular breaks

Although most workplaces have mandatory and regular scheduled breaks, and the employees can have a 5 to 10-minute break every hour, it is important to take a break when you feel like you need to. This will help you regain energy and increase your motivation. So, it is important to take several breaks during the day. (1)

2. Use some strategies to decrease the interruptions

Even though small talks with your colleagues are quite enjoyable, they can decrease your productivity, so it is nice to put on your headphones to limit the sounds and tell them politely that you want to concentrate on your work.

3. Focus on one task at a time

When you alternate between tasks, some of them may remain unfinished and be of a lower quality, which cannot be the case if you focus just on one task at a time, where you settle on just one objective. But, if you are able to multitask, you can do more assignments at the same time, but it is important to prioritize the tasks in order of importance.

4. Use the two – minutes rule

This rule included finishing tasks that can be finished in 2 minutes or less and have been postponed, like responding to an email, creating new objectives, printing an outline, etc…

Although they look small, these tasks should be done, and they are part of the to-do list of the day and can be really important for your overall productivity. (2)

5. Consider using time blocks

With time blocks, you can easily set a limit on the task you work on, print out your schedule and highlight the time frames where the time blocks should be, and this will be a visual schedule so you can keep track of the time periods you work on.

6. Make productive meetings

Standing meetings always increase alertness and concentration. You can also take notes during meetings on the most important topics and discuss them again with your colleagues if it is needed.

Nowadays, attending a meeting via a web platform or mobile phone is also an alternative if you do not want to waste your time and have more time for your personal tasks.

How Do You Measure Productivity In The Workplace?

One of the vital components of human resources is measuring employee productivity, and if it is not measured, it cannot be improved. 

Employee productivity should be measured to make investment decisions, such as modernizing the company. Another factor is the estimation of the workforce’s efficiency so you can accommodate a challenging deliverable, and, in the end, all managers would like to see how their employees are performing. 

Every company may measure productivity differently, and there are various methods that you can use, such as follows: 

Measure productivity by profit

This method is usually used by small to medium-sized companies, and it is done by tracking the revenue it is very simple, if the revenue increases, it means that the employees are productive. There are some amazing software tools you can use to track down the productivity of employees in our modern age. (3)

Measure productivity with the quantitative method

This method is easy and straightforward and it depends on the employees themselves and their capabilities of processing calls, products, and applications for an hour, day, or a month it is very convenient for small-size companies and enterprises. (4)

Using the method Measuring By Objectives (MBO)

For this method, you should give each one of your employees some specific goals and tasks to accomplish and measure their productivity by the results they have achieved and how they contributed to the company’s success.

To use this method, you need to set objectives, supervise the whole process and support the employee and do regular evaluations to track the progress of each employee. (5)

How Can You Productive All Day Long? 

If you want to have a successful day ahead and be very productive, you need to do some things on daily basis: 

1. Limit alcohol, caffeine, and electronics before going to sleep and sleep in the dark and a cool little room to wake up refreshed.
2. Wake up early, drink a glass of water, do some exercise, and have a healthy breakfast.
3. Set your intentions for the day and have a moment to think over them clearly and you can write them on a piece of paper and bring them to work.
4. Avoid social media and use of your phone and do not deliver emails or make phone calls when you wake up.
5. You can schedule all the activities for the day into your calendar and of course, the breaks.
6. Have positive thinking and recite some positive affirmations to keep you motivated.
7. Tackle the most important task first and rest all other assignments for later that day.

 How Can You Be Productive For 12 Hours-Shift?

Working 12 hours shift can have a negative impact on your health and can lead to constant fatigue, sleep disorders, and obesity; sometimes, you need to speak even with your physician about your health problems.

But, how can you make those 12 hours of work easier and more productive for you? Here are some tips to follow:

1. Eat regularly and healthy

When it comes to working 12 hours a day, your food plays a key role in your ability to work and complete all the tasks you need to do successfully. You can make your lunches early in the morning or late at night before going to work.

2. Take breaks to relax and destress

Working 12 hours shift can be very stressful, and you can easily lose focus, so taking breaks is very important for raising your energy level and allowing your body and mind to refocus.

You can listen to some music or chat with a coworker to relax and change the subject you work on.

3. Get enough rest

You cannot function normally with a lack of sleep and enough rest, and you always stick to your schedule when it comes to sleeping and goes to sleep at the same time if you work long hours, although it might be challenging.

You probably spend hours in front of your computer, and you are not getting things done? Your colleagues and friends always finish their work earlier with maximum efficiency. What are you doing not right, and how can you improve your strategy? There are some tactics that you can use to help you improve your productivity because being productive doesn’t always mean working hard and having strong discipline.

Productivity is very important because you can do more for less time and have more free time to spend with your friends or practice your hobbies. It also gives you a sense of feeling accomplished and releases dopamine in your system to enhance your mood.

Why Do We Struggle With Our Productivity? 

There are some reasons why some people struggle with their productivity:

1 . You do not know your end-goal

You do not know your right direction because you are overwhelmed with activities, your brain is full of many thoughts, and you cannot focus on the task and accomplish what you need to.

2. You start working late

Sometimes you do not have enough time in the day because you start working late when the day is almost over. The do list for the day can be big, so if you have a lot of activities for the day, it is better to wake up early and get the things done.

3. You are distracted by social media

In modern technological societies, we are often distracted by constant message alerts, notifications, replying messages, and social media, and you may pass your time scrolling messages all day long. According to one report in 2018, most Americans spent around 11 hours per day on their computers and tablets or on other media. (1)  

4. You are bored with work

There are times when you feel bored with work, and you work too much, so you find your work tedious and you do not have the motivation to finish it.

In addition, the task you are working on it may be very difficult and complicated and hard to finish, so you will try to find a way to focus on easier tasks, which leads to lower productivity.

 How Can You Increase Your Productivity And Focus?

If you have problems with your productivity, these tactics may be helpful:

1. Focus on harder tasks first

When you start working, first focus on harder and most important tasks and not the easiest as most people would do. If you have many tasks to do, try finishing the difficult and most important ones first because in some cases, you will not have enough time to finish all the tasks for the day.

2. Be an early riser

Many important CEOs showed to be successful early risers, proving their success. (2)  

This is also associated with better health and better grades at school for students, which leads to better job opportunities. One study from Harvard Business Review showed that early risers are more successful than night owls. (3) 

3. Set limits

Set a work schedule for a week or a month and also on how long you are going to work on a task. It will also shrink your work and make you more productive. Also, it will push you to work harder and do your best to finish the task on time.

4. Change the scenery

If you work for long hours in the office, you can change the scenery and start working at home, or in a coffee shop if you have flexible time and you can do it.

The focus sometimes depends on the environment you work in and the people you are surrounded by.

5. Have a positive self-talk

When you are overwhelmed with work, try using some positive self-talk like “I can do it” or “I am good at this”, because the negative one will make things even worse.

Several studies have shown that around 80% of self-talk is negative and critical, and we all need inner strength to make new changes and get new healthy habits. (4)

How Can You Concentrate Better?

In the digital world, we are distracted and need to focus on our tasks because it takes our time and attention better. 

Concentration is our ability to direct and control our attention according to our will. Many factors can decrease it, like lack of sleep, environment, eating habits, or distraction.

But, we have a few tips to help you improve it: 

• Close all media applications and silence notifications, as many researchers have already found that our cognitive capabilities improve when our phone is out of our sight.  (5)  
• Practice meditation to calm your brain and relaxation of the whole body and use your breath to distract your mind. 
• Improve your sleep habits and try not to read from electronic devices before going to bed because they can emit light to the blue end of the spectrum and block the secretion of melatonin that promote sleep in the brain. 
• Focus on the details that are important for the moment and let go of the past moments, and do not think about the future. 
• Try some stimulating games like chess, jigsaw puzzles, sudoku, and some video games that can stimulate your brain and improve your short-term memory. 
• Listen to music, exercise, and eat well to increase your serotonin and dopamine levels, which affect your focus and attention. Food like blueberries can stimulate your brain because they have an enzyme that improves the flow of oxygen to the blood and brain. 

How Can You Reset Your Brain To Focus In 15 Minutes?  

If you wonder how to reset your mind in a few minutes’ time, here is how: 

1. Take a break for a glass of water

Most Americans feel dehydrated and this slows the function of the brain. So, whenever you feel you need more focus, drink a glass of water and improve your brain capabilities.

2. Have a healthy snack 

Have a healthy snack like grain toast with avocado, nuts, healthy seeds, and dried fruit. These are very helpful to have on your work desk as they contain protein and carbs to balance your blood sugar.

3. Have a walk

Walking generates energy, and even a brisk walk can help your body produce even more energy. It is a good combination of fresh air and exercise that promotes better concentration and focus. Sometimes a simple stretch can help your body stimulate the blood flow and give you a different perspective.

4. Inhale lemon essential oil

Citrus, rosemary, or eucalyptus oils can help you stimulate your nervous system and get you to feel energized.

What Is The 80/20 Rule For Productivity?

80/20 rule is a common rule that every entrepreneur can benefit from and was created and developed by Italian economist and sociologist Vilfredo Pareto who stated that 80% of your productivity comes from your 20% effort and spending your energy on the right work. (6)

This rule doesn’t apply to time, and it doesn’t mean that you should work just 1.5 hours out of eight per day, but it means that you should focus on the things that matter the most and should pinpoint the efforts that drive the most of the results in your business and your life. 

For example, after research, you can see that most of the company’s revenue comes just from 5 clients and you should focus your energy on them instead of managing 25 clients and getting overwhelmed in the process. 

This way, you will maximize your process and get the best results. 

Another example of this Pareto principle can be as follows:

• 20% of your sales team may create 80% of your sales
• 20% of your lead generation sources may create 80% of your leads

To find your critical 20%, you should start collecting data such as spending time on specific tasks, the activities that dominate in your company, which tasks give you the best return, what are the main tasks, etc…

Then prioritize and improve the critical 20% and do not waste too much time on the other 80%, and distribute the time of the day carefully.

This rule is an example of how to work smarter than harder.

How Do You Keep Productivity High When Motivation Is Low?

One of the biggest obstacles to overcome is self–motivation, which is probably very low when we are fed up with something. 

We all need some booster from time to time, although we work and live in an encouraging environment and love our work.

Here are some tips on how to improve your motivation when it is low:

Find what keeps you from moving on 

Find the very issue that prevents you from moving on in the right direction, although sometimes they can be presented in a hidden format and it may be the one you least expect, probably the least difficult one, and then it is easier to move on. 

Find an encouraging coach 

When you feel that your emotional drive sets you back, maybe the best solution is to find someone that will help you to boost your motivation. Maybe a friend or a colleague who can be an example of a highly motivated person and can help you to move on if you are planning to quit. 

Books are motivational boosters 

Books are great for learning about other people’s experiences and some of them may be written on the theme of motivation, and you will be surprised how they can be focused on the weaknesses and compare your story with other stories and you will find the one that is right for you and it will surely boost your motivation and help you move on!

Find your hidden fears 

In many cases, your hidden fears and anxiety can prevent you from reaching the peak of their best, identify them and continue on the programmed track. It is always normal to have some hidden fears, and that is why you need some external booster to keep on moving.