The pursuit of greater productivity is a common goal for managers in Brazilian companies. In Brazil, the cost of human resources and infrastructure is very high compared to other markets; in addition, the productivity of professionals is also well below that of other countries. According to a global study by the Conference Board , published in 2015, more than three workers are needed in Brazil to produce the same amount of results generated by one professional in the United States.
The problems that explain this low performance of professionals are cultural and structural. According to the report, Brazilian companies as a whole suffer from management problems and inadequate infrastructure, with little investment in equipment and infrastructure to improve the productivity of teams and their professionals.
Increasing productivity is the best way to optimize results and position oneself competitively and uniquely in the Brazilian and international markets; this need is evident in Brazilian companies. Therefore, managers need to seek qualifications and actions that allow for continuous improvement in company management, keeping pace with market changes and technological advancements.
Often, simple and practical actions can contribute to increasing the productivity of professionals in the workplace; here are a few examples:
Setting goals is important.
Without a defined direction, it's impossible to focus on results, measure performance, and improve productivity. Small businesses should review past company results and, based on that, define detailed objectives and goals. It's necessary to document goals and monitor results periodically to determine if a change of direction is needed. It's also important to offer additional benefits to professionals who achieve their goals regularly.
For this constant monitoring, Excel spreadsheets, Google Drive , or business management systems like ContaAzul , where the most important thing is to always have the data updated and analyze the results in order to understand the strengths and weaknesses in each of the company's sectors.
A good alternative for setting goals is the OKR (Objectives and Key Results) methodology, where general company objectives, objectives for each sector, and the key results that will be measured to assess whether the objectives have been achieved are defined.
The manager's role is to incorporate the pursuit of productivity into the company culture, making the process natural and automatic.
Collective work generates efficiency and quality.
It's important to understand that professionals and teams need to work together to achieve results and improve productivity in the corporate environment. The simple act of bringing together employees from different departments and asking for advice can help improve processes.
Set aside some time and approach your employees with the following questions: What can be done in your area to improve your productivity? What should be done in another sector to improve your productivity? What can the company as a whole do to produce more? The secret to improving processes may lie in this gathering of information and simple, practical actions.
Improve communication in your company.
The exchange of information between employees is very important for sharing knowledge and experiences. There are different IT service options that can facilitate this communication; Slack for direct communication between employees. This tool is very useful because it allows the organization of conversations by channels and groups. Skype and other messaging programs can also be used. Institutional communication is also important, keeping employees informed and updated. This communication can be via internal email or through a company blog.
Invest in your team and delegate responsibilities.
If your employees need authorization for every decision related to their daily work, they are likely to produce less than they could. It's important to be aware that you need to trust those who have already delivered positive results and increase their autonomy.
It's worth remembering that, above all else, a company is made up of the people who work there. Material assets, offices, and machines would be nothing without people. Encouraging ongoing employee training is something all companies, large or small, should do regularly.
Make use of the resources that technology offers.
There are thousands of technologies and tools that can contribute to your company's productivity; always strive to stay updated, replacing manual processes with automated systems. See Endeavor article list of technology tools that can help manage your business.
Two points that should be considered more carefully are task management and the focus and productivity of employees:
Task management systems are very helpful.
There are several methodologies and systems that can contribute to the organization of processes/tasks in companies. With process standardization, it's possible to organize tasks by team, define workflow among employees, and obtain relevant information about the progress of activities. Three good options for task management systems are Runrun.it , Trello , and Basecamp .
Manage internet access to avoid wasting time and increase focus on work.
In most companies, a large portion of the team uses computers for their tasks, remaining connected to the internet for most of their work time. As several studies indicate, it's possible that your employees are wasting up to 30% of their work time on personal activities unrelated to the company. To solve this problem, it's important to implement an internet usage policy and use a service that allows monitoring and control of internet access. Alternatives for managing internet access include seeking specialized IT companies, or ready-made server solutions such as Dell SonicWall , Fortinet FortGate , or more modern cloud-based solutions like Lumiun Tecnologia or OpenDNS .
Share your experiences on management and productivity in the comments, share the methods and tools you use, and the results you've obtained!
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