Amateurs sit and wait for inspiration, the rest of us just get up and go to work.
Stephen King
Working on a project is a difficult challenge. Working on a project together with a team is much more challenging due to a diversity of character traits, experience, motivation, etc. There always will be clashes in opinions and approaches between team members. This is what can kill projects.
However, this is not a dead end. Any successful manager should know about certain steps and tricks on how to improve team efficiency. Regardless of the level of experience and differences in personalities, they will help to improve efficiency and productivity and get results.
So, here are the tips on how to increase team productivity and how to be more productive at work.
1. Set an example
This is quite an obvious point. Any project manager leading a project and a team to success should be a role model thus showing an example to all subordinates. At the same time, in an efficient team, a manager is not only a leader; he or she is also a member like everyone else who is not afraid to do minor tasks. Realizing that a manager performs the same scope of work, individual team members will work harder what certainly will improve efficiency.
What is better to do
Show your team that you do your best at work, but without any madness.
What is better not to do
Do not give only orders.
2. Communicate and listen
Nothing goes well without communication. It’s an essential point during all stages from the very beginning until accomplishment. You only need to decide how communication in your team will be organized. It can be, say, a stand-up meeting where everyone shares ideas and thoughts. Or choose an online tool for communication and collaboration. It will not only save time but will also allow reaching in seconds team members working from home.
Also, it is vital to listen to what your team says to you. Each member has own needs, ideas, and recommendations. If everyone knows that he or she can be heard anytime, it will increase your chances to hold people closer. This, in its turn, will increase efficiency and improve team performance.
What is better to do
Choose the best means for communication and effectively deploy them.
What is better not to do
Do not overdo with excessive communication.
3. Know your team members’ abilities
A good way to improve productivity is to be aware of strengths and weaknesses of your team. It will allow you to assign tasks to those employees who are great at exactly this or that kind of duty. On the other hand, it will significantly reduce pressure from those team members who are not experienced to properly fulfill a certain task.
Also, pay attention to not only those strengths. Your team members may have interests in some spheres where they are not experts, but where they want to sharpen their skills.
What is better to do
Delegate tasks according to experience and knowledge.
What is better not to do
Do not demotivate your team assigning tasks to not proper performers.
4. Encourage your team
Having a job is great. But the thing is that motivation can go down even in those individuals who proved to be productive. Now it is time for some other ways to improve team performance.
A manager can reach an increase in efficiency by simply encouraging a team. Of course, it’s not only about financial incentives. But still, they do matter.
What is better to do
Involve extra incentives for your subordinates.
What is better not to do
Do not narrow it down only to payments.
5. Establish clear goals
This point is connected in some degree with point 2 – communication is the king. Miscommunication can lead to really bad results. Establishing real and clear goals will eliminate any point of miscommunication from the very beginning. When an individual realizes what is expected of him or her, it will maximize efficiency and make your work productive.
Just provide your team members with clear instructions and clear scope of work. It will help to forget about such question as how to achieve efficiency.
What is better to do
Evaluate the progress toward the most recent goal. If it was successfully achieved, you do everything right.
What is better not to do
Do not set goals that are not achievable.
6. Choose the right software
Software is one of the cutting edge ways of improving productivity. It can be HR Software for recruiters, collaboration software, tools to improve productivity, project management software or any other tools that help leaders manage their teams and projects. Spend some time, research the market, and choose software that will meet all your requirements. Fortunately, there are plenty of solutions.
One of them is GanttPRO – a Gantt chart maker. The tool allows creating as many tasks in your project as you need. All the tasks will take the form of horizontal lines along a timeline that is an actual schedule. Managers can easily assign duties to team members, create dependencies, collaborate and communicate with each other, keep track of progress, and simply meet deadlines in a timely manner. The tool is a Web-based solution with an immediate access from any place. It is a way out for all those who once put a question how to manage a team efficiently.
This is not an ultimate list of ideas on how to improve your team performance. You can simply think over your system and add as many points as you wish. There is no unique approach how to deal with the productivity of your colleagues. However, the above-mentioned tips are the start points that will help you and your team work with more efficiency and productivity.
Do you have something to add? Please, share your ideas with us in comments.