Moving into 2022, one of the biggest challenges facing employers, team leaders and managers is how to motivate employees and teams and how to raise productivity levels to back up where many companies need them to be.

There are no ‘right’ or ‘wrong’ answers when it comes to raising the levels of motivation amongst teams of employees and it can be incredibly challenging, particularly when more people than ever are not in the office full time.

However, there are a number of effective steps which can be taken, no matter the industry in question to help improve output, productivity and motivation throughout any company.

Although nothing is guaranteed and it is by no means a ‘given’ that attempts to increase output and productivity will succeed, taking steps in the right direction is more likely to have a positive effect the crucial business and company pain point of productivity.

Investing in The Company Workplace
Understandably, different companies have different workplaces and workspaces for their employees and understandably, there will also be different budgets available with which to invest in the company workplace. However, making sure that the workplace is comfortable, clean and suited to the employees that occupy it on a regular basis will make teams feel more valued and will make them more inclined to work that bit more efficiently, in comfort.

Being able to invest in a workplace does not necessarily need to cost huge sums either.

For example, if a business is by its nature based online with remote workers, for example an online payday loans company, which is unlikely to have huge teams and a large office, steps that can be taken are smaller compared to for example a large retailer in a city centre with multiple premises and large numbers of staff.

There are small steps that can be taken which will have a larger impact than many employers and managers may expect when it comes to investing in the workplace. Simple and effective steps that can be taken include:

• Ergonomic Set Ups – Investing in office items and furniture like desks, chairs and even computer monitors and workstations will provide a much better and healthier environment for employees. If staff have a set up which is designed to maintain their posture, health and wellbeing, they are more likely to maintain higher levels of productivity compared to if they were working in an uncomfortable environment that is detrimental to their health
• Increase Natural Light – The effects of natural light should not be overlooked. The impact that adding just a small amount of natural light to any room and workspace is profound. Better for the eyes and able to provide a feeling of relaxation that artificial light is unable to, natural light is an easy way in which to help lift productivity levels of your staff
• Light Refreshments – Having light refreshments and snacks on hand in any workspace is a quick and easy ‘pick me up’ for staff and employees. It doesn’t have to be anything complicated or fancy and simply having supplies of tea, coffee and healthy snacks like fruit can help lift employees’ morale, in turn increasing their productivity and output

Mental and Physical Health
Promoting better health amongst employees is an effective way to increase their productivity and help them to perform better.

Allowing staff to take short breaks from their screens and enabling employees to get outside can go a very long way to improving their physical as well as mental health. Happier and healthier teams of employees are more likely to be more productive and are more likely to perform better when at work.

Mental health in the workplace is another area which should be focused on a lot more and is something that is rarely given the attention it deserves. Helping employee mental health does not require big steps to be taken and just a few small steps in the right direction can be the difference between happy, productive and healthy staff and unhappy, lacklustre and unhealthy employees.

Steps that can be taken to improve mental health amongst teams, staff employees include:

• Shortening the Work Day – This does not need to be anything drastic. However, just cutting for example 30 minutes on a Friday at the end of the week, to encourage staff to take some time for themselves at the end of the week can promote a ‘feel good’ environment within any company and is likely to be appreciated by staff, who in turn are likely to perform better when at work
• Sleep and Relaxation – Encourage staff to sleep well and take time to themselves; resting and recuperating both for short periods during the workday as well as when not at work. Small steps like helping staff find high quality bedding (like goose down bedding and duck down pillows) can go a very long way in improving the quality of their sleep and thus, their productivity at work throughout the weeks and months
• Someone To Talk To – One of the easiest and simplest ways in which to help improve the mental health of employees and members of any team is having someone or people to whim anyone who needs to can talk to in confidence and privacy. Just taking the time to check up on employees can go a very long way in improving their mental health and in turn, their work and productivity

Understanding What a Company Stands For
Every business and every company, no matter how big or small will have a mission statement and will at least in some way, be aware of what they want to achieve and who they want to reach. Having a positive message which runs through the veins of any company is important to make sure that employees and staff members understand what they are working towards.

In turn, employees’ productivity is more likely to benefit as when people in any company know what everyone, from the director or CEO, to HR manager and junior executives are working towards, there is a sense of company unity that bonds entire teams.