Some businesses like to promote casual workplaces, while others are strictly professional. But regardless of what sort of office you have set up for your business, the fact remains that it is a place of work and productivity. There is always room for improvement, even if it only means a few extra moments of productivity every day, but it adds up quickly.
Most productivity experts are proficient in both calculation and commerce - valuable skills for businessmen or businesswomen. Office managers know what a few minutes can do to save a budget, and what it adds up to over the course of a year. Add these miniscule figures together for each employee, and all of a sudden, you have a very significant number. If you want to improve the way your office does business, try these three tips on for size:
- Examine your existing workflows.
- Experiment with new flexibility measures.
- Take advantage of technology productivity solutions.
Reexamine Your Current Work Processes
Some business owners might be so busy that they don't have time to look at how things work on the lower level of their operations. This holds them back, as it is impossible to ask for more productivity without knowing how things work from a different point of view. In order to understand how others work, try asking them what you can do to make working easier and more efficient. This eliminates roadblocks that might make working more difficult for your team. Take notes and examine patterns. This will show the best way toward improving your current overall work techniques.
The official scientific method for this is called Scientific Management, which is a field study dating back to before computers were commonplace. According to The Secret Life of Machines, "Techniques included taking time lapse photos of office workers with flashing light bulbs tied to their heads and hands to trace their movements. The idea was to eliminate 'wasted motion' and find 'the one best way' for every job." This might be a little overkill, but by tracking and monitoring your processes, you can cut corners to make everybody's day more efficient.
Increase Workplace Flexibility
There are going to be times when your seemingly foolproof office plan will fail. The reason for this is simply because the same workplace isn't going to work for everyone. If you have an open office or a room full of cubicles, you're sure to wind up with at least a few fish out of water. Introverts will dislike the open office, while extroverts will find themselves limited by private cubicles. Find out what kind of personalities your office employs, and adjust your office setup accordingly. If you're still having trouble finding out what kind of people you work with, a personality test might yield some promising results.
Invest in Technology Productivity Solutions
Remember those patterns we discussed earlier concerning roadblocks in the workplace? Many of them might refer to technology. Thankfully, you have Bardissi Enterprises at your side to help you reconfigure your current IT infrastructure and help your company get up to speed with the latest productivity solutions. The number of solutions we provide, such as cloud computing and web content filtering, will help your employees stop wasting time on goofy websites, putting those minutes back into their work schedule and making up for poor workflow. In fact, content filtering has been proven to improve workplace productivity by as much as 25 percent.
- Other technologies to consider:
- Streamlined Business Applications
- Shared Calendar Solutions
- Task/Project Management Software
- Cloud File Management/Collaboration
- Mobile Computing Solutions
- Live/Remote Meeting Software
- And more!
For a free technology consultation, contact Bardissi Enterprises at (215) 853-2266. We'll help you boost your productivity with technology designed to make business less confusing. Just say the word, and we can make your technology work for you.