I guess every entrepreneur is wondering how to motivate his team to work at maximum efficiency. After all, this factor is one of the most significant for the successful functioning and profitability of the enterprise. However, even if we do not consider the aspect of business, teamwork can be found almost everywhere. These people are united by some definite purpose. In this paper I would like to tell by what ways it is possible to maximize the performance of any team.
Let's start with defining what a team itself is. A team is a circle of the people who have a common goal. A team is characterized by trust and cooperation.
When people work as a coordinated team, they have one common purpose, they all together think, all together do, everyone knows what he is responsible for, and helps others. The team does not have separate interests; there is a common problem that should be solved.
In the organization which is built as a team, the interests of management and staff are general. The manager and his employees are not enemies.
The team can have a leader, head, or supervisor. He plays a role of the coordinator, the first assistant. A good leader respects his team and likes to consult with people. A good team thinks together with the leader, but once the decision is made, it is not discussed. It is performed.
A friendly team does not preclude unity of command, it understands and supports it. If you are the head - we support you. If I will be the leader – I will know that my power will be supported by everyone.
Team relationships are alive, personal, close and informal, not as with strangers. Here everyone is willing to help anyone, even if it is not included in his duties.
Working in a team is great. Team work is more fun and it is easier than working alone, everyone's efforts are formed into a single trend, supporting one another, like a synergistic effect. However, there is a danger: in a badly formed team it is more difficult to control the personal responsibility of each person. Team members know what a personal responsibility is, if something is instructed to you - you are responsible for it. If you cannot deal with it - ask for help or refuse, but if the task is not completed - it's your personal responsibility.
Now, when we understand what a real team is, we need to determine the difference between what is "efficiency" and what is "productivity".
The efficiency, or the ability to do the right things, usually refers to the successful obtaining of the expected and desired results. It characterizes the extent to which the goal is achieved, the problem is solved and the profits are obtained. Anyone with the right training and good instructions can do the right things. Even a properly programmed robot will be able to cope with it. But the only efficiency is not enough to recognize a good leader or worker.
Productivity is the ability to make things properly. It means to work with a minimum amount of time, efforts and money. This is the shortest distance between the statement of objective and a mark about its implementation. "Productivity" of business substantially reduces the amount of resources needed to perform the work. Productivity takes into account the real situation, but finds a way to make it an advantage.
If you, as a leader, have a desire to improve the productivity of your team and personally yours, effective productivity is necessary for this purpose. Efficiency without productivity often doesn’t work. That’s why a good leader combines these two characteristics to improve the performance and profitability of his team. Here are several examples on how this is done.
Use the Technology
Technological breakthrough in the last century greatly facilitated the ability to perform more tasks in a shorter period of time. Therefore, be sensitive to the emergence of new trends, devices and programs, and encourage people to use them. Allow your employees to bring and use their own devices for work. Why can’t you use a source of improvement of performance for which you do not need to pay? If they want to be able to check their e-mails in their spare time, do not just let them do it, but also help.
Provide Immediate Access to Business Information from Anywhere
Team members can work from virtually any location where Wi-Fi exists. If it is possible - let them do it. For example, if someone has a sick child, you can allow this employee to work from home. It's pretty simple and allows up to a certain extent maintain the performance. It is also necessary to encourage the desire of your employees of working remotely. By using Wi-Fi and other nice applications it is possible to always be in touch. Employees can always get access to business information wherever they are: at home, in a hotel, at a conference, in the dining room, etc. Provide them with a reliable, secure way to share ideas and communicate, allow them to be more flexible and able to react quickly.
Measure Everything
You can better react on the situation when you see it through the numbers. Keep track of all parameters that are important for your team - the number of hours worked, the reports written, productivity per hour of work. Use the reporting system, project management software, sharing tables, the planner or just a board for records where important indicators of team performance will be monitored. You can use ready-made programs or order the development of your own.
Make Regular Brainstorming
Periodically meet with your team to share ideas on how to better achieve the strategic priorities and improve processes and procedures. Look for overlapping areas and eliminate redundancy. Always discuss what from the fact that your employees perform doesn’t increase the value of the company. Eliminate operations that become unnecessary after a platform is changed. Make sure that each employee has full documentation. Then a new employee will be able to get into the swing of things very quickly. Do not filter your thoughts, just let your ideas appear. You will see that brainstorming gives interesting results. Consider ideas from other industries and apply them in yours.
Set the target efficiency indicators and monitor their implementation
After agreeing on ideas with your team and setting goals, make a special timetable for achieving them. As in any project, divide these large goals into small manageable parts, each of which has its own indicators and terms. Once the goal is achieved, set the new one (Laura Stack).
Motivate your team
Motivation is one of the main engines of progress. A person who knows that his work is appreciated will perform much more efficiently. Yes, it may entail some financial investments, but in the end you will still remain the winner.
These guidelines will create a sufficient basis for the implementation and support to achieve effective productivity. Always remember that productivity - it's not just speed. The speed of completing the goals won’t matter if it lacks efficiency.
References
Laura Stack. “Awesome Efficiency: 5 Ways to Maximize Team Productivity”. 25 February 2015. Web. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/laura-stack/awesome-efficiency-five-ways-productivity_b_6724682.html
