The productivity of work is not the responsibility of the worker but of the manager.
Peter Drucker, management expert
As a manager, what are you doing to improve productivity?
I believe that a speedy recovery requires more output: we need to do more with the same. But when employees are already pushed to their maximum capacity, how do managers increase output? They adopt a productivity mindset to improve processes and systems.
Most employees I have worked with want to be productive. Unfortunately, many are prevented from reaching their capacity because of obstacles created by bureaucracy, old methods, or broken systems. Smart leaders improve productivity by engaging their employees in a bottom-up approach to identify obstacles and inadequate systems.
A survey of 300+ senior executives published by the Harvard Business Review (March, 20017) found that leaders with a productivity mindset show faster growth and higher margins than their industry peers. Leaders who focus on people and processes enable peak performance. Great leaders re-think working environments, processes, and infrastructure.
Work with Employees to Improve Productivity
Rather than focus on efficiency by reducing staff (and demoralizing employees left to pick up the slack), savvy leaders work with employees to identify ways to increase output. When this topic comes up with my clients, we discuss a simple, four-step method to get started:
- Focus on people and processes. Ensure the right people are in the right roles best suited for their strengths and abilities.
- Inventory routines and workflow. Examine the “why” and effort of each process. Categorize and verify alignment with goals/mission. Identify obstacles, gaps, and redundancies.
- Remove obstacles. This includes the organizational drag created by bureaucracy or complex organizational structures that (no longer) align with operations or real sources of value.
- Inspire and motivate. Support autonomy and accountability. Recognize efforts, illustrate how they align with goals and mission, and celebrate small and large victories.
Our path to a speedy recovery requires a productivity mindset. What do you think? What steps do you take to improve productivity in your organization? I’d love to hear from you. I can be reached here, on LinkedIn, or give me a call: 561-582-6060.
