Updated April 14, 2023

Introduction to Increase Productivity in the Workplace

Increase productivity in the workplace refers to enhancing the efficiency and effectiveness of work procedures and employee performance to achieve better results with the available resources. It involves optimizing time, skills, tools, and technologies for higher output, quality, and profitability.

The following article provides an outline for Increase Productivity in the Workplace. Productivity is very important in life. How do you get anything done if you aren’t productive enough? Have you ever been through a phase in life where no matter how hard you seem to be working, nothing ever seems to get done? Been there, done that. Low productivity could be due to a multitude of reasons; many of those are easy enough to resolve if only one learns to recognize the causes. Being busy does not necessarily mean being productive.

Productivity Meaning

Productivity is associated with getting more things done in less time. As it happens, the more stressed you are, the less productive you become. How do you get everything done in an assigned period without making mistakes? After all, we are only human. No matter what you do, time seems to be running ahead of you, and you feel the need for a 25th hour. Well, guess what. You don’t get the 25th hour. So you do what successful people do – get more things done in less time. The big question is, how?

Steps to Increase Productivity in the Workplace

Let’s see how to increase productivity in the workplace through the following steps:

1. Start on a Positive Note

Start your day with a smile. Yes, I know you have a ton of assignments to complete, but smile. Wake up five minutes early and do something you like. It can be small, like sipping coffee in silence or talking to a loved one. Start your day on a positive note and see the difference it makes. Why? When you are happy, your brain releases a chemical called dopamine. Dopamine controls the brain’s reward center, motivating you to seek out your goals. This helps increase workplace productivity, kicking your brain into high gear. Get rid of all the people who suck out positivity. You don’t need these stressors in life.

2. Prioritize

Make a list of tasks and rate it according to importance. Has that client been waiting to hear from you for a couple of days? Do it today. Prioritize based on ROI – return on investment ratio. Learn how to use time more efficiently; it is not as difficult as it sounds. Take out your cell phone, open Calendar, and make a daily (or weekly, if you are the one to plan) checklist. Having a goal list will make you more organized, and you will know what you need to do in order of importance. Check off the tasks you complete, and I promise you will feel more accomplished as you check off each task. A big confidence boost to increase productivity in the workplace if you ask me!

3. Compartmentalize

Many people don’t understand the importance of ‘slicing’ tasks. So you have a big assignment you need to tackle, which is on your to-do list. Break down the big tasks into small ones and accomplish them individually. This way, you can check these little tasks off your list and feel like you are moving one step closer to completing and attaining your goal. This will help you reduce stress levels and help you keep a check on your progress. Think compartments.

4. Reward Yourself

Did you get done with three important tasks on time? Yay! Reward yourself. Get yourself those shoes you wanted or even a cheat dessert you’ve wanted to have for a while now. Reward yourself, and you’ll actually look forward to completing the rest of the tasks. You’ll be happier, hence more motivated and dedicated.

5. Declutter

Many people know this one but still don’t understand its importance. Clean out your workspace. Throw away old letters and wrappers you’ve collected in your bottom drawer—Chuck out the useless things on your desk. Create a clean space for yourself that does not give you a headache when you look at it. I can say from personal experience that working in a clutter-free healthy work environment increases efficiency. Imagine not having to spend hours looking for that important letter-you know exactly where it is. Do this with your emails too. Sort out your spam mail, and delete useless emails. Compartmentalize different types of emails, and your life will be easier. This will help you to realize how to increase productivity in the workplace.

6. Take a Break

Now, don’t undermine this one. This is important. Sure, you have a lot of work to complete and need more time. I get it. Not taking a break will elevate stress levels, which decreases productivity- negating the point of your no-break-funda. Do something mindless. Take a walk, or listen to music. Turn off your phone and try some breathing exercises. This will help you get off some steam, and you can return to the task with a clearer mind and new ideas. Give it a try. Know how to increase productivity in the workplace & improve your efficiency.

7. Say ‘No’

We, humans, have the tendency to say yes to every task given to us. We want to please everyone at once. Stop. Don’t bite off more than you can chew. Of course, no one wants to be the bad guy; I get it. Ask yourself these few simple questions before saying yes or no:

Do I have enough time?
Do I have more important, more rewarding tasks to complete?
Will it help me cultivate a better professional relationship with the person asking?
Do I get anything out of it?

If the answer to all these questions is no, it is simple. Say no. If the answer to even one question is yes, consider agreeing to keep the related factors in mind.

8. Look After Your Health

Health is the most neglected sphere in the midst of work. It is important to have good health to perform at work and increase workplace productivity. Go ahead and exercise for 15 minutes before you leave for work. It will get the blood flowing, making you feel more awake and refreshed. It will also help you focus more, and it is clear that a healthy body equals a healthy mind. Keep yourself hydrated throughout the day – have a bottle of water next to you whenever you sit down to work. Eat healthy instead of snacking on sugary and junk food, which brings down your mood and has many health risks.

9. Delegate

If you have people working under you, delegate the less important tasks to them. This will help you clear up your list and lessen your workload. If something’s easy enough for someone else to do, let them. You can’t do everything yourself. If you have more time on your hands for the important matter, you can do it well without worrying about other small pending tasks. Learn the art of delegation and win the day.

10. Use Emailing Hacks

This one is easy to follow. Check your emails while on the way to work. For example, if it takes you half an hour to commute to work, utilize that time to check emails and reply to a few. Keep your emails concise without worrying about coming across as impolite. Keep all your emails only five to seven sentences long. Having a pre-set signature at the end of all emails saves time. Also, replace long email threads with phone conversations or chats. This will help you clear up doubts quicker instead of digging through old emails to discover who said what.

11. Get Rid of Distractions

Spending too much time on Facebook at work? Watching too much television? Stop it. You may not notice, but you could get a lot done in the one hour you spend scrolling down your newsfeed or staring at the TV. Give it a try. If you can’t resist sneaking a look at Facebook or Twitter, block these sites. Turn off your mobile phone so that you have absolutely no access. Unplug your TV. You will get a lot of work done quickly without the continuous beeping of your phone and the chiming notifications of social network sites.

12. Be Decisive

Don’t sweat the small stuff. We don’t realize the time we spend trying to make decisions and then mulling over our choices, thinking if it was correct. Do this: Make a 90-second rule. Decide within these 90 seconds, and then that’s it. Don’t think about it anymore. Move on to other things instead of lingering over your choice. This will save you time and prevent stress.

13. Stop Working Overtime

It may seem counterproductive, but working overtime lets you accomplish less than you would have if you had done the same task the next day. Working overtime also ruins the next day’s work – you will not be rested and hence be unable to concentrate, and in the end, you will fail to increase productivity in the workplace. It is a vicious cycle that needs to discontinue. Work can wait; your body needs its rest. If you get off work at 6 pm, working overtime occasionally till 7 pm is fine – not beyond that. Respect your internal clock. Make a routine.

14. Research and Revise

If you have a meeting or a phone call scheduled for the day, chalk out the important things to cover. Write it down and follow it. This will help you reduce aimless and irrelevant talk. This practice will save time and ensure you don’t miss out on an important topic.

15. Do Your Most Dreaded Task First

Have a phone call to make that you are dreading? Do it first thing in the morning and strike it off your list. Whatever it may be, if you keep pushing it further to the next day, it will only loom over your head, making you tense. Break the cycle and do it now. You will feel much better if there’s one dreaded task off the list. You can accomplish the rest of your tasks in peace.

16. Stop Multitasking

We know you have a lot to do, but slow down. Trying to accomplish too many things simultaneously may be more harmful than useful. It may turn out that you mess up everything in the quest to complete three tasks at once. Remember, quality wins over quantity any day. Your attention will get divided, and you cannot give 100% to any job. Complete one chore properly, and then move on to the next. Trust me on this one.

17. Delegate Less for Important Tasks

It sounds weird, but it is handy. If you assign less time for an important meeting or a project you are working on, you will be under pressure to finish it sooner. This will increase productivity at work and help you complete the task sooner without giving you the time to mull over unnecessary and minute details.

18. Carry a Notebook

Write down every idea that comes to you. Although you can just type it on your phone, writing notes is cathartic and can never accidentally get deleted. This practice will help you ‘declutter’ your mind and free it up for new stuff.

19. Outsource Chores

Can you afford to outsource the copywriting project? If yes, do it. Be it at home or work. This will reduce pressure to do things that are not as important as the main project. At home, order groceries online instead of going to the market and spending hours. This will save you time for other tasks.

20. Don’t Be So Available

Increasing productivity in the workplace depends on your day off:

Shut off your phone and log out of your emails.
Meet up with your friends and go out with your family.
Relax.

Conclusion

This is your day to refresh your mind and feel renewed. Don’t worry about work – it’s always going to be there. Laze around, cook food, spend time alone, and read books. Your mind will feel revived, and you will be ready to take on the world the next day with renewed vigor, and it will also help you increase workplace productivity!

You cannot increase productivity at work overnight. Good things take time. Set a routine and follow it. Learn more about yourself and know your needs for a happy and fulfilling career and a better life.

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