Your company's greatest asset is its human resources. Profitability depends on how much your employees accomplish, so it's important to help them be as productive as possible. Here are six tips to help you improve your employees' productivity.

Clearly define objectives.
You must set clear objectives for your employees. For instance, if you want to achieve a 10% increase in sales per year, share this goal with your employees. Clear targets provide them with a goal and encourage them to work toward a destination. Without clearly defined objectives, employees won't know if they are meeting expectations. Provide employees with regular updates and implement corrective measures when necessary.

Provide training.
Thorough and up to date training will help your employees be productive and efficient. Don't expect them to know how to do every aspect of their job without instruction. Provide them with opportunities to keep up with developments in their field and to keep their skills current. If on-site training is impractical, provide incentives for employees to pursue education and training on their own, whether in the form of bonuses, paid time off, or tuition reimbursement. The more knowledge employees have, the more confident they will be, which can have a positive impact on productivity.

Invest in equipment and technology.
Adopting the latest technology can make employees more productive. For instance, tablets and smartphones can keep employees connected with the office, providing access to resources they need to get their jobs done. Equipment and technology should come with proper training so employees can leverage it as efficiently as possible.

Communicate.
Frequent, two-way communication between employees and managers is essential, instead of one-way communication wherein managers give orders. Managers must also listen to employee feedback; people on the front line are in the best position to provide suggestions on improving productivity.

Compensate appropriately.
Reward employees for increased productivity. People won't put in extra effort if the only one who benefits is the employer. Institute an appropriate compensation program to reward employees for their efforts, including bonuses, gift cards, or other fringe benefits.

Conduct performance appraisals.
Employees need more than monetary compensation. They also need recognition. So you must have a way to measure their performance. Performance appraisals illustrate how employees meet their goals and provide you with a way to recognize the top performers.

To improve employee productivity, management and employees must work together. Provide your staff with goals to work toward and the tools to work efficiently. Communicate your expectations to your team and give them the incentives and recognition they need. This will encourage information sharing and create a positive and productive work environment.

To help foster resiliency and productive work environments for you and your employees, make sure your employees are aware of the programs available to assist them and their family members, such as an Employee Assistance Program (EAP) which provides no-cost professional counseling. If you don’t have an EAP program included in your group health insurance plan contact us and get more information about the low cost and benefits from the licensed Health Insurance Agents at AMERICAN INSURANCE.

Source: BPA Health, May 2016 eNewsletter.