There are many ways that efficiency and productivity are hindered today, including confusion, digital tools, and more. They can prevent workers from being aligned. In fact, many workers who are unaligned say that their company lacks the tools or structures that they need to adapt to changes. The best way to solve this problem is by focusing on what productivity looks like at the individual level.
How Are Efficiency and Productivity Different?
Efficiency shows up as a company trying to reduce the money, labor, and resources needed to produce a product. From this perspective, the terms efficiency and productivity can be used interchangeably. They both are talking about the comparison of what goes in to what goes out, but there are some differences. Efficiency is broader and productivity is more individualized.
How They Share a Symbiotic Relationship
Work productivity is able to improve efficiency. When you give employees the tools they need, their job can be done more efficiently. The problem is that it can’t be reversed. When you have productive employees who aren’t efficient, they are all over the place. It is important not to focus on the process 100% of the time because they need to do what works and stop doing what doesn’t.
Ways to Improve Work Efficiency and Productivity
- Have Regular Meetings
Regular meetings help to quickly address what is working and what isn’t. This way, employees don’t spend too much time working inefficiently. Keep the meetings brief and make sure that they are focused. Have regular meetings so that you can focus on one topic at a time.
- Reduce Busy Work
Often, employees spend a significant amount of time on busy work that doesn’t provide an increase in value for the business. Companies can automate these tasks with software so that employees can be more productive. This way, employees don’t have to spend time learning new software and doing mundane chores. Instead, they can spend time doing the job that they are hired to do.
- Help Teams Find Their Rhythm
Teams in the workplace work well together when they find their rhythm. Assess what your teams need, and help them work it out. You can have them brainstorm together, turn off their devices, or work from home. Try to learn what teams need and help them find their rhythm so that they can be more productive.