Important Considerations for Maximizing Your Company’s Productivity

If you are a small business owner, you know that productivity can mean the difference between a successful business and a failing one. Sometimes, a lack of productivity can be the result of employees who are not attentive, while other times, a decline in productivity can be caused by the workplace itself.

As a business law attorney, I help clients address productivity issues within their companies every day. In fact, many of my clients encounter similar problems. The following are some common productivity pitfalls of which business owners should be aware.

The Office Layout May Lend Itself to Distractions

Many businesses are moving to a more collaborative business model, and their office layout reflects that. There are many benefits to an open office floor plan without isolating cubicles or walls, but there are also a few downsides to this arrangement. When employees are exposed to more distractions, they are likely to experience a drop in productivity.

For example, a person who has a workspace around others may be more likely to be distracted by conversations, phone calls, or other disruptions. Another mistake business owners make is to place shared technology like copiers and printers in ineffective spaces. Ideally, workers would have the supplies and technology they require near them. When employees do not need to travel far to complete their work tasks, they are less likely to become distracted.

In the wake of the COVID-19 health crisis, more and more companies are allowing employees to work remotely. Such an arrangement can also be helpful for your business, but it requires having the right people in remote positions. For some workers, the distractions associated with being at home could create issues with productivity.

Too Many Meetings Can Lower Productivity

Although meetings are necessary for most businesses, they can also be detrimental to employee productivity. Meetings themselves take time, and sometimes, meetings include more people than necessary. Other times, employees or supervisors are overly eager to have unnecessary meetings because they enjoy the chance to be heard or recognized.

Studies have shown that meetings—even those that take place over Zoom or other video platforms—can cause employees to lose their focus and prevent them from refocusing later. In addition to eliminating unnecessary meetings, some businesses find that limiting meetings to only one or two days is helpful. This way, employees have longer blocks of uninterrupted time to work on their assigned tasks.

Old Office Equipment Slows Down Work

Many businesses want to hold on to office equipment until it is unusable in order to save money. However, having old or non-working equipment in an office can significantly slow down productivity. For example, a copier that constantly gets jammed slows down everyone who needs to use it. Employees may spend too much time trying to fix the copier and therefore get less work done. Depending on your situation, it may be more cost-effective to keep office technology like computers, printers, copiers, and telephone systems as up to date as possible.

We Offer Legal Assistance for Small Business Owners

If you are a small business owner who has further questions or concerns about improving the productivity of your company’s workers, contact an experienced Naperville business law attorney. Call 630-228-9413 for a confidential consultation at the Gierach Law Firm today. We can help you develop a strategy for protecting your company’s profitability both now and for years to come.

Sources:

Business News Daily

Entrepreneur