What is holding back your team’s productivity?

Every HR manager knows the importance of productivity, but despite this fact, it is often one of the hardest trends for businesses to maintain.

There are distractions everywhere for employees, but it is the mark of a forward-thinking business to identify these and then implement solutions to ensure everyone is moving in the same direction.

As such, the results of a recent CareerBuilder survey should make for interesting reading. Based on the responses of more than 2,000 hiring and HR managers across various industries, the survey highlights the top productivity killers and their effect on workflow.

According to the figures, cell phones and texting are the most common productivity inhibitor with 52 per cent of respondents in agreement. This was followed by the internet (44 per cent), gossip (37 per cent), social media (36 per cent) and email (31 per cent).

Other answers to make the top 10 list included meetings, noisy co-workers and smoke/snack breaks.

Impact on workflow

Depending on the scope of your business, teams that are slowed down by productivity killers experience different consequences. Based on CareerBuilder's findings, the main issue to arise was a lower quality of work (45 per cent). 

Other problems such as missed deadlines and loss of revenue was reported as well.

It is also interesting to comment on how workplace relations were affected. Three out of 10 hiring and HR managers had noticed a lower morale because other employees had to work harder due to the distraction of others. Additionally, a quarter said the boss/employee relationship had suffered due to productivity problems.

Rosemary Haefner, chief human resources officer of CareerBuilder explained that today's technology is too tempting for many employees.

"Between the Internet, cell phones and co-workers, there are so many stimulants in today's workplace, it's easy to see how employees get sidetracked," she said.

What are the solutions?

Ms Haefner suggested that employees could take regular breaks during the day to re-energise themselves. However, anything that could refocus employees was a good place to start.

"The trick is finding the right (work-appropriate) activities that promote – rather than deplete – energy."

Employers could also implement HR management software to streamline tedious or time-consuming processes. Incorporating everything from training and performance to remuneration and recruitment, Employee Connect's unique software can keep employees engaged in their work and focussed on producing quality outcomes for the business.

For more information, contact our expert team today.