6 Precursors to Poor Productivity

Most leaders understand the importance of productivity. As a metric, it evaluates three core components, including: 

• Efficiency, or the inputs required to execute a task, 
• Quantity, or the amount produced, and 
• Quality, or the worth or value of the deliverables. 

Each element can influence the company’s growth. An effective use of resources contributes to lower operating costs, while greater output demonstrates the capacity of businesses and employees to accomplish more. Higher quality offerings lead to happier customers and a healthier bottom line. Working in a high-performing environment can also boost staff well-being and engagement, which drives positive business outcomes. 

When productivity declines, companies often stagnate too. Resources may be underutilized, projects are typically delayed and deliverables decline in quantity and/or quality. Together, these outcomes result in more customer complaints, reduced profits and employee dissatisfaction. 

Analyzing and optimizing productivity is essential to ensure that organizations can thrive, and it’s not always easy to measure. Metrics that can be consistently tracked like hours worked or time spent at a desk don’t necessarily equate to the value or volume of the person’s output, and quality can be challenging to assess until a product or project has been completed.  

Waiting until the endpoint to evaluation production is not an ideal option either as errors may go unnoticed, and organizations may fail to adapt in the face of evolving demands and market interests. 

To keep productivity on track, it’s important for leaders to pay attention to early warning signs of diminished output. If any of these six signals appear in the workplace, it may be time to re-evaluate internal practices and processes.  

Sign #1 – Communication is muddled 

When personnel are unclear about their objectives, expectations and roles, it’s likely to lead to inefficiencies and misalignment. To test how well information is flowing, ask each person involved in a project to share what they believe to be the desired outcomes, what they see as their contributions and how they will be collaborating with others to achieve the objective. The resulting information can reveal any inconsistencies that may impact the final deliverables.   

Sign #2 – Concerns are rarely voiced 

The saying “No news is good news” is not necessarily true when it comes to workplace activities. Voicing hesitations is a common occurrence in a healthy company culture. By airing concerns, staff have an opportunity to identify potential roadblocks and correct missteps before they happen. When there is too much agreement and groupthink occurs, productivity will likely suffer. 

Sign #3 – Ideas tend to come from the same employees or not at all 

Groups of people solve problems faster, arrive at more accurate conclusions and increase creativity when they are cognitively diverse. To keep businesses operating effectively, it’s essential to hear from all contributors. Using their collective inputs, teams will surface opportunities for improvement, innovation and outputs that reflect a wide range of interests and needs. 

Sign #4 – Work backlogs are growing 

Sometimes, backlogs can result from mismanaged priorities, where personnel are simply being tasked with too many to-dos. In other instances, they may indicate opportunities to streamline processes or adopt new habits. Meet with employees who consistently seem to struggle with unfinished tasks or missed deadlines and collaborate with them to explore root causes and potential solutions. 

Sign #5 – Burnout is on the rise 

The well-being of the workforce does directly influence productivity. When staff members feel stressed and anxious, they are more likely to lose focus and make mistakes, which can impact their task efficiency as well as the quality and quantity of the deliverables. Burnout may also lead to a lack of motivation or absenteeism, which have long-term effects on the throughput of organizations. 

Sign #6 – Morale is declining  

If employee engagement is low, personnel will likely feel demotivated or unhappy in their roles. These sentiments often influence their willingness to put in extra effort and their ability to perform at their best. Low morale can turn into turnover, and the time spent replacing and bringing staff up to speed certainly impacts output. Enhancing confidence and engaging team members in their work will support greater engagement. 

While declining productivity can damage the health of the business, leaders who are mindful of the early warning signs will be empowered to avoid these outcomes. By taking proactive measures to strengthen communication, promote psychological safety and look after the well-being of the workforce, they will positively impact the long-term financial prospects of their organizations. 

How can Emergenetics help you improve productivity in the workplace? Learn more about our tools and programs support organizations by exploring our website or fill out the form below to speak with one of our staff members today. 

 

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