A productive workforce is one where the amount of work employees do or the output they produce within a specific period contributes to the growth and profitability of the organisation that employs them. In other words, when the value of employees’ total work or output exceeds the employer’s total labour costs, they will be called a productive workforce.
Typically, a productive workforce is
- Happy and energetic
- Full of positivity
- Motivated and self-directed
Such a workforce will also have healthy working relationships and get adequate growth opportunities at the workplace. However, employers need to evaluate and motivate employees to do a better job to create a productive workforce. Sadly, many employers fail to do this because they aren’t sure about how they can connect with their employees and give them the impetus to succeed.
If you have been trying to build a productive workforce but can’t get it quite right, here are the three fundamental steps you should focus on.
1. Meet the Basic Needs and Offer More
For employees, money is definitely important. But to be motivated and bring their best to the work they do, they will need more than an occasional monetary bonus or a team dinner with their manager. As an employer, you can give them what they want, such as flexibility at work, more annual leave, wellness programs, and adequate growth opportunities, as these things can do wonders to boost their productivity.
If your organisation is still stuck on the old-fashioned approach of tasks and rewards, it’s time to bring changes and make what you offer your employees match what they actually need and prefer.
2. Invest to Create the Right Workplace Infrastructure
If your employees’ workspace has poor lighting, dull colours, and uncomfortable furniture, they could all be contributing factors to their below-average productivity. If you haven’t given a second thought to poor lighting, know that it can cause eye strain and fatigue, and even increase the effects of depression. Again, colours are known to influence behaviour, which makes it important to choose the workplace’s wall colours carefully to increase alertness, creativity, and motivation.
Investing in ergonomic furniture (like risers to adjust the screen level of computers, standing desks, adjustable chairs, etc) is another wise move as it will help in your employees’ well-being and level of comfort, thus leading to improved productivity.
3. Focus on Your People
Your people are your biggest asset. To create a productive workforce, you need to create a welcoming atmosphere where people can feel safe and comfortable. At the same time, you also need to ensure the workplace encourages creativity and collaboration and welcomes ideas and suggestions from all, irrespective of any bias based on caste, creed, sex, religion, etc.
From offering adequate growth opportunities, flexible work arrangements (hybrid work, remote work, parental leaves, flexible work/holiday schedules, etc), and performance-related bonuses to running wellness programs, recognising good work, and fostering employee autonomy (instead of trying to micromanage everything), you can use various ways to keep your people happy, engaged, and motivated.
Wrapping Up
Building a productive workforce is the key to running a successful business. But there isn’t a magic pill to do it overnight. Also, there isn’t a single technique that can help you to create a more productive workforce. Instead, you should focus on three key basics, namely meeting your employees’ fundamental needs and offering more, building the right workplace infrastructure, and focusing on keeping your people happy, engaged, and inspired to create a productive workforce.
If you need to hire the right fit for your productive workforce, you can always rely on us at InHunt World!
This article was written by Sonali