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Home > Avoiding Roadblocks To Employee Productivity

Are your employees performing up to expectations? Before you start a review of your employees' strengths and weaknesses, look at your own management practices. Read more to find out how even the most well-intentioned managers can undermine productivity.

Building a loyal and motivated staff takes more than just hiring people and training them. Managing people and inspiring them to do their best isn't as easy as moving machinery or materials, but effective employees are every bit as important - if not more so - than equipment to the success of a business - large or small.

With nearly 80 years of management consulting experience in small to mid-sized businesses, the George S. May International Company has identified several obstacles that often prevent even the best-trained employees from meeting personal and company goals. Here are some actions - or inactions - that can trip up employee performance:

Failing to communicate the value of an employee's role to the company. People want to feel that they are part of the team and that their contributions are important to the success of the company. Single out every person, from the receptionist to the mailroom clerk, and recognize their efforts for keeping the company running smoothly.

Not providing timely feedback about performance. To create an atmosphere that effectively motivates employees, provide consistent and realistic feedback on their performance. To be most effective, your input should be immediate, specific ("Thanks for completing that report on time") and honest ("Let's talk about some changes to the final section"). Cash bonuses and gifts are always an effective way to demonstrate your appreciation, but even a simple memo or e-mail praising an employee's efforts will be appreciated.

Not maintaining a comfortable, pleasant and efficient work environment. Make sure work areas are set up to allow optimum efficiency and effectiveness. For example, keep all of the tools needed to complete a specific project in the same workspace. Even more important than optimizing workflow is maintaining a safe workplace. Look at your workplace through the eyes of a safety inspector. Your employees will appreciate your concern for their safety, and you'll limit your potential liability.

Failing to provide clear performance expectations. As a company grows, operating procedures and human resource issues are often overlooked in the face of meeting goals and deadlines. Clearly stated company policies, job descriptions with duties and responsibilities spelled out, and a solid organizational structure help keep employees on track.

Not providing adequate training. Sometime employees aren't up to speed because their training was inadequate or even nonexistent. If an employee's performance isn't on par, find out if he or she truly understands how to do his or her job. If additional training is called for, consider spending more time with the employee or investing in a formal training program.

Uncovering the reasons behind poor employee performance takes effort and, more importantly, the guts to objectively examine your own management style and organization. The enhanced job performance, improved morale and increased productivity will be worth the effort.

This information is compiled and provided by George S. May International Company.
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