Managing an office might sound easy to an outsider, but ask any office-based business owner and they will probably tell you that their job is extremely stressful.
There are so many components that go into running a successful business from a central office space. It’s not as simple as turning on the computers and inputting customer data.
Office managers must organize the office layout, manage a team of employees, delegate tasks, and check the inventory to order essential equipment such as monochrome printers, scanners, and telephones.
With all of this on your plate, it can be difficult knowing how to stay on top of your workload and ensure your office runs smoothly and efficiently.
To help you out, here are some of the best ways you can boost productivity in your office environment to maximize your success as an office-based business.
Make Sure Your Employees Are Happy
As an office manager, it’s down to you to ensure that all of your employees are happy. Satisfied employees will work harder and will, ultimately, be much more productive.
Make sure that you regularly checking with each staff member to see how they are doing. Many office managers employ an effective once-a-month feedback system where they will meet with every employee at least once every four weeks for a catch-up.
If you have the time, set aside one day each month to spend chatting with your team members and gaining their valuable feedback. Ask your staff for feedback on their current role to identify where improvements can be made to your business.
This also gives your employees the chance to raise any concerns or inform you of any issues they are experiencing so that you can resolve these problems as quickly as possible.
Don’t Be Afraid to Delegate
If you want to boost the productivity in your office, every employee needs to know exactly what is expected of them.
Whether you are an assertive person or not, you must get comfortable with telling others what to do and delegating tasks to each employee.
This enables your employees to complete their work while also giving them the chance to develop their skills and feel a sense of achievement. In turn, your business operations will run seamlessly and your employee morale will remain high.
Reduce Distractions
Distractions are one of the biggest killers of productivity, and unfortunately, there are plenty of things that can become distractions around your office!
Allowing your employees to sit on their phones or eat food at their desks while they work may seem like a great idea to create a relaxed office environment, but it can massively decrease productivity.
Having the radio or television on in the office provides great background noise, but it can be a distraction for your employees.
Encourage your employees to leave their smartphones in their bags and eat during their lunch breaks instead of while they are working. If you want some background noise in your office, keep the radio turned down low. This ensures that every team member is working optimally to boost productivity.
