Middle Management: Five Ways to Improve Employee Productivity

The productivity of an employee is one of the keys to the success of a business, and we all know that there are a lot of things that can affect the performance and productivity of an employee. Luckily, an employee’s productivity is within the control of middle-level management professionals. Here are some strategies to aid you in boosting your team’s productivity and keep your business in shape.

Analyze Skill Gaps and Tailor Fit Training Programs

Training employees gives them the confidence to perform their tasks. Look for skill gaps and create specific training programs on certain skills, new tools, and various processes. After that, a follow-up on what they’ve learned is necessary.

Avoid Micromanagement

Adopting micromanagement can be damaging as it signals a lack of trust between the superior and the employee, negatively impacting the latter’s morale and performance. It may also cause bottlenecks in decision-making as it undermines the confidence and initiative of your people, leaving them too dependent on you.

First, you have to realize that being too involved in each team member's responsibilities makes you unproductive. To turn this around, you have to get over yourself and learn to trust them by letting their creativity flow. Have faith in them and delegate tasks and responsibilities properly. More than the element of risk, it will help improve the job satisfaction of your subordinates.

Make Them Feel Safe

With the outbreak of COVID-19, employers realized the role of the overall well-being of employees in the success of businesses and the economy as it affected the workers’ performance and productivity. With this, more companies are now building a culture of wellness in the workplace.

You may provide a comfortable work environment and establish trust among your team members. Being open to flexible work hours may also encourage a healthy work-life balance and help reduce stress. And don't forget to recognize not just their achievements and the whole team’s wins, but also their dedication and teamwork, to keep them happy and motivated.

Highlight Your Culture and Improve Onboarding Program

Hiring an employee with beliefs and values that are aligned with the company’s can influence the entire team’s teamwork and productivity and make it easier for members to get along with each other.

To find the right professionals, building your employer brand that describes your company’s culture and values is important. You can also get help from in-house or outsourced HR professionals, and improve the company's onboarding program to help new hires learn everything about their roles faster.

Provide Opportunities for Career Advancement

Depriving your team of opportunities for growth at work or making them feel that their career advancement is the least of your concerns may turn your employee retention and ROI downward.

To keep your people motivated, define a clear career path and professional growth for them. You may also set realistic short- and long-term goals which will serve as a daily motivator that would provide a sense of accomplishment once achieved.

Continuous Effort

More than the continuous effort through the strategies above is the fact that employees with superiors that care are likely to be more productive and content at their job. Treat them fairly and listen to their needs. Your subordinates are not just stepping stones for the company to grow, they are an important part of an organization just like you.

The views and opinions expressed in this article do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of any mentioned entity.