I say, as long as we ignore the man behind the work we will never have the productivity that we crave for. For most of us the way we act towards each other is not positive. It is as if we have been ordered to stay out of people’s emotions and feelings. We do everything in our power to increase productivity except taking care of human’s emotions and thoughts. Did I say taking care of? I meant to say the exact opposite. We tramp on people’s attitudes and behavior. And we walk by without even acknowledging other’s opinions and feelings by effectively ignoring the fact that we have treated one of our own as an alien from another planet.
In my answer to the best way to increase productivity, you are not going to get perks like massage room benefits, financial growth rewards and such. No indeed not. I am going to give you strategies on how to work and improve on the human factor only. I believe where there is open communication, trust, respect and encouragement between people in any environment, productivity has no option but to thrive. The cost of ignoring people’s feelings and emotions is too high.
“The most important question to ask on the job is not ‘what am I getting?’ The most important question to ask is ‘what am I becoming?’ Jim Rohn
We want productivity, but we fail in investing in human factors.
The followings are wittiest ways to increase productivity at a work place:
Note: The helpful suggestions I have put here can be used in any work place anywhere. They are universal. They work both on employees and employers and both of them need these ways to foster their working relationships. They are human beings after all.
1. Foster good and positive attitude
Have you ever observed how an infectious enthusiasm has a tremendous positive energy and rubs off on every one? Just like a single candle lights up a whole dark room, a positive attitude gives light to its surroundings. That is a great news to us. There is bad news. Negative attitude should not be left alone. As we communicate with each other, we have to make sure that negativity does not make us its pathway.
As human beings, aren’t we more?
Employee attitudes are affected mainly by three factors:
Employee Engagement
This factor like the phrase says, shows the level of engagement an employee has. The more engaged a person is with his colleagues and his superiors, the more likely he is to have a positive attitude.
Tips!
• Providing strong leadership is a great way of engaging employees.
• Provide line managers who motivate and empower employees.
• Create an environment where listening to the voice of employees is the main job.
Psychological factor
This is a very deep emotional factor. That is to say that the psychological binding is not written on a paper, but it has a greater impact than any other contracts an employee makes with an employer. There is certain expectation one expects from the other and vice versa.
For example, if the employer breaks a certain promise, the psychological contract is broken. From then on, the employee wears an attitude that says ‘I have not been given what I have been promised’.
Personal issues and problems outside of a work place
This issue has nothing to do with the work itself, but the person has personal problem of his own. We, human beings carry our emotions wherever we go. There is no such thing as ‘I will be sad later on’. If there was, we wouldn’t be having so much problems.
So, having excellent communication skills and intelligence are not enough for a success in productivity if we do not have positive attitude.
Tasks are accomplished at a much faster rate when the work load is shared among all employees and each one contributes in his best possible way. That is only possible, if negative attitude is managed and positive attitude is shaped through people’s minds.
How to positively shape employees attitudes:
Set a positive tone
Prevention is the highest cure there is. And it is the cheapest way. Before everything and everyone becomes negative and too complicated, spread around positivity like your life depends on it.
Make listening a full time job
Make the working place a positive place
It is up to each and every one of us to make our environment an attractive and positive place. Positivity does not fall from the sky. It has to be worked hard from the inside to be able to be seen from the outside.
Tips on inspirational attitudes that are important at any place especially a work place!
• Enthusiasm
• Respect for others
• Commitment on the task at hand
• Helpfulness
Read quotes that are related to attitude:
2. Motivate all the time
We fool ourselves indeed if we think that money is a great motivator. As it is external by nature, it does not last. Lasting motivators are those that bring value on the people themselves.
These are the superb motivators for human beings that last:
Two-way communication
For people to know that they are valued, there needs to be an open and face-to-face communication
Do you know what happens to the message when you do not communicate effectively?
Staying positive no matter what
People can learn to correct a mistake in a better way through positive-reinforcement. This is what is known as constructive criticism.
Recognition and reward
Well, I am not talking about financial reward here, rather a different kind. A sincere, targeted praise will do wonders to a person than any other external incentive. To make our recognition meaningful, we have to be specific in our applause. We shouldn’t just say a good job.
Control over the job
If we want people to excel in their job, then we should just let them do their job. This has more to do with the fact that we believe in them or not. Ability has no place in here. If we hover over every employee looking for something and everything they do, then they will never stand on their own. That is for employers, but employees who are working side by side need this trust as well.
Be an example
If we are not excited about our job or our company, then we are forgetting that people learn mostly by looking at action.
Empower the people
Don’t just stand there and deliver your input only. What about the employees? Don’t they have something to offer? Isn’t that why they are there in the first place? So, ask for their input and implement their advice. If you do that and make it a habit, then you are polishing your way into the highest achievement in productivity.
If you are unable to stand in people’s shoes, then you have forgotten—
Mentor them
This concept is not only for leaders and managers but for all involved. Anyone who is in a slightly high position than others has a duty of mentoring his subordinates.
Don’t forget training
Why do you think huge amount of money is set aside for lots of training’s in most companies? Because investing in employees is the main key to the advancement of the overall company. All should ingrain in their minds that training is not a one-time thing but rather an all-time thing.
3. Listen all the time
Listening is the main part that makes communication effective. People gathering together and talking does not mean that one is listening to the other and vice versa. Listening by itself is a science and it needs to be cultivated regularly.
“The most important thing in communication is to hear what is not being said.” Peter Ducker
To be a better listener we should:
Approach each dialogue with the goal to learn something.
Stop talking and focus on the one who is speaking.
Pay attention to our responses especially our gestures.
Listen for intention (i.e. try to hear what is not being said)
Do you want to know how to communicate effectively?
Listening has tremendous benefits. Of course productivity increases where there is listening and more congenial relationships are created between employees.
Some of the highlights to benefits of listening:
Reduced misunderstandings
Expression of caring attitude
Faster work rate
Less mistakes and less “do-overs” (i.e. great listeners learn from what is being said and what is not being said so they are able to use the information at work without making mistakes)
Tips!
• Give your whole attention to the speaker.
• Take a moment before replying.
• Show them that you have listened by asking a question of your own or rephrasing what you have heard.
4. Be Humble
This might sound ridiculous at a moment glance, but take a minute here to internalize the word ‘humility’ inside of you. We do not think of this word often enough and it is costing us a lot.
Let me ask you a question, have you ever learned something from someone who is not a little bit humble? That person could be a boss, a colleague or a subordinate. But I tell you, you cannot learn a single thing if that person is not willing enough to do so. This willingness comes only from having humility.
Take for example these examples of humility:
Humility lets us remain open to new knowledge and information.
Humility lets us recognize the contribution of others.
Humility lets us give our best without expecting anything in return.
Do you now see the untapped potential of humility in our lives? No? Then, I will add some more advantages:
Humility affects how we work on a team.
Humility makes us listen.
Humility helps us to keep on learning.
Humility keeps us quiet when we are in a conversation.
Humility enables us to ask for advice from anyone.
Humility makes it possible for us to admit that we have made a mistake and we are humans after all.
Learn from these strangers who are humble all the time:
5. Respect Others
If an admiration and deep respect for people is lacking in a work place, then the place becomes a burden. I hope you are not shocked by my statement. But tell me the truth, would you stay in a place happily if no one has given you a slightest respect for your presence? I wouldn’t.
The followings are key benefits of respecting others:
It increases employee engagement.
This happens because a sense of trust is established as a result of respecting one another.
It creates a fair environment.
It is a handy tip for reducing stress.
It is an essential criteria for improving knowledge sharing.
People who respect others automatically share their ideas. It is in their nature to do so
It contributes to job satisfaction.
This is when the work place becomes a blessing and the spirits of people are lifted.
6. Give praise and recognition
Any company that has created a recognition culture is following a winning formula. Praise seems too little if one does not look at it in depth. It has, however, huge advantages to people in total and the company they work for.
People who have been praised and recognized for their effort feel that they are valued. This value given is much more important than any external incentive in the long run.
Tips!
• Acknowledge an effort right away.
• Develop an open praise sharing culture.
• Praise publicly.
• Get people to share their expertise.
About the Author
Banchiwosen Woldeyesus
Trainer, Blogger and International Distributor
Trainer
Masters International Business & Commerce, Indira Gandhi National Open UniversityGraduated 2010
Lives in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
2.9k answer views 2.9k this month
Knows Amharic
Latest posts by Banchiwosen (see all)
- Momma, Did You Hear the News?, and Where Are the African Literary Magazines? - May 20, 2024
- What Happens When We Stop Remembering and 100 Small Acts of Love - February 29, 2024
- 24 Favorite Essays I Read in 2023 - December 16, 2023