It’s safe to say that every company
out there wants to run their offices as efficiently as possible. That is, the
idea is to offer the most and best products and services at the lowest cost.
One mistake commonly made by administrators is to confuse quality with
quantity.
Whether you’ve been faced with the
task of improving a company’s overall efficiency, or if you just want to see
where you can improve, the following tips will surely help. Here are several
ways to streamline any company’s efficiency while improving quality.
Promote
a Culture of Open Communication
If your company has implemented an
“open door policy,” you’re already pointed in the right direction. This is a
great start, but think about taking it a step further. Too often, “open door policies”
end up being hollow, rarely-used entries in employee handbooks. These are
typically skimmed at best on the first day on the job. Create a culture of true
open communication, and productivity will improve as a result of a more
positive office morale.
Encourage communication,
collaboration, and feedback between departments, as well as between management
and staff. This will liven up the stream of ideas, resulting in a more
productive team overall.
Implement
Smart Mobile Devices
Smartphones, tablets, and other smart
devices are an exceptionally effective step toward enhancing productivity.
Provide sales staff with smartphones to help them keep in touch with the office
via phone and emails while out on sales calls. Tablets give them the ability to
create and modify presentations on the go, and there are countless apps
available on both these devices that are designed to improve productivity by
helping to combine and prioritize tasks.
When you implement a smart mobile
device management system, you will put your company on the fast track toward
more effective procedures. This will (in turn) bring a better-quality
experience for clients and employees alike, resulting in a stronger bottom
line.
Embrace
Feedback
Your employees have opinions.
Encourage the entire company to embrace feedback, both positive and negative by
creating an outlet for it. It’s a good idea to designate a general hub in the
building for staff to communicate and make suggestions about the company. Many
choose to do this through a specific website centered around human resource
issues, serving as a one-stop-shop for work-related issues and updates.
For startup companies and small
businesses, a more personal — and affordable — approach to this is to hold
weekly or monthly meetings to share ideas. You could also use a bulletin board
in a central part of the office as a place to share ideas.
Get
a Technology Update
Take a look around your main office
space. Are your employees typing on 10-year-old monitors connected to
antiquated computers? It will undoubtedly seem like a major cost at first
glance, but updating employee computers and software periodically is an
absolute must. Considering the most basic factor of productivity is speed,
equipping office computers with the most efficiently run software and hardware
should be the first thing you improve.
You may be able to get by with a
simple hard drive upgrade or RAM boost, but those computers will need regular
maintenance, and some in-depth attention every few years. If it has been more
than six, it’s time to upgrade the system entirely.
Consult
Ergonomic Standards
Have you analyzed employee workspaces
for ergonomic standards? It will certainly be in your best interests to brush
up on ergonomic standards, and toeducate staff on the basics. Bring in a
professional and hold a seminar to fill them in on standards. If that’s not in
the budget, educate yourself on the key points, and make sure the lifeblood of
your company are taken care of in this aspect.
Supply staff with office equipment
that comply with these standards, such as chairs, foot rests, and keyboards.
Don’t look at this as an expense; rather, it’s an investment that will likely
yield profitable returns through enhanced employee productivity and lowered
worker’s compensation claims.
Streamline
Social Media Marketing Efforts
Social media is proving to be one of
the most viable marketing tools available these days. It’s most certainly a hot
topic, and one that isn’t to be ignored. Utilizing these platforms to promote
your business is extremely important, but really shouldn’t be a major time
concern. A few hours spread out each week ought to be enough to adequately keep
up social media accounts for the average company.
Do yourself a favor and urge your
social media coordinator to utilize streamlining apps like HootSuite, Sprout
Social and MarketMeSuite. These programs combine social network accounts onto
one convenient dashboard, making it easier to control and post to each in a
timely manner.
Analyze
Employee Processes
Take a poll of your current employees
to gauge their overall efficiency. Have direct supervisors spend an hour or so
with each department to determine how each team handles individual tasks. Then
meet with these supervisors to compare notes, and discuss whether there is a
faster, more efficient way of doing things.
This activity will be greatly enhanced
by the increased communication practices mentioned earlier. When everyone
collaborates like this, more work gets done. As an added bonus, there is a
bigger sense of ownership when employees are able to take part in modifying
procedures.
Set
Achievable Goals
Once all of these tweaks and changes
are made, it’s time to set some realistic goals. Set over-arching, broad goals
for the entire company, and then work with department heads to decide which
goals to set for each department, and finally, for each employee.
Setting realistic, tangible goals this
way will provide much-needed motivation. To bring this whole process full
circle, once these goals are met, plan a company-wide activity such as a
potluck, where everyone can relax and enjoy each other’s company, while
celebrating their success.
The task of improving a company’s
efficiency can certainly be a daunting one. Don’t be intimidated by the
enormity of the situation. Rather, consider this a chance to make your company
one that anyone would want to work for, and make it more efficient at the same
time.
No comments:
Post a Comment