7 Guaranteed Ways to Boost Performance at Work

Poor employee performance can have a devastating impact on the overall running of a business, yet many companies don't really understand all the factors that can affect how effectively staff are doing their jobs.

When it comes to performance and productivity, many managers and supervisors only look at the basics like inadequate skills / training and maybe lack of effort or concentration. In reality, however, there are lots of things that can feed into poor performance, and anyone facing challenges in these situations will often feel unsupported.  As a result, they’ll often produce a decline in performance and a general apathy toward their work, if not the business in general.

A proactive workplace is one that's well-structured and supportive in order to ensure good performance and to boost overall business success.



But too many businesses are still stuck in the dark ages when it comes to shedding light on poor performance and so, here, we'll take a look at seven major issues that can affect performance – and how to reverse them:

1. Clarity in Job Descriptions and Expectations

While it may sound obvious, you'd be surprised at how many businesses fail to provide clear and understandable job descriptions to new hires. Unclear expectations within a role can create confusion and undue stress for an member of staff as they battle to guess which responsibilities are theirs and which aren't. This leads to poor performance and can even harm to the business through factors such as:

• Taking on extra work unnecessarily
• Failing to complete tasks which fall under their remit
• Taking on work for which they may not have the skills or experience
• An overlapping of tasks due to lack of clarity in job descriptions
• Being reluctant to make decisions for fear of making mistakes
• A lack of morale among staff

These things can quickly result in an employee becoming frustrated as well as creating imbalances within a team which, in turn, decreases efficiency, engagement and performance.

The solution

HR departments, managers or supervisors can begin to tackle this issue by first ensuring that everyone is given a clear and detailed job description to avoid misunderstandings. They should also instigate a system of regular check-ins or one-on-ones to ensure that people stay on track in terms of expectations. Finally, regular and effective communication with HR and within a team is vital for clarity and morale. Failing to put these measures in place can result in mistakes, missed deadlines and declining morale of the workforce.

2. Safeguarding Mental and Physical Health

Mental health struggles such as depression and anxiety can quickly corrode an employee's well-being - as can physical ailments like chronic pain or fatigue. Poor health will often translate into poor decision-making, decreased productivity and a lack of teamwork. Such struggles can include a dependence on alcohol or drugs as a coping mechanism which can cause problems with concentration, motivation and overall performance. Unfortunately, these issues will often go unnoticed until they begin to negatively impact performance through absenteeism, tension with colleagues and costly errors - by which time it may be too late.

The solution

In many cases, those who are experiencing mental health issues or addiction are reluctant to speak up either through shame or fear of repercussions. Because of this, HR departments should put together a manual to tackle this. It's essential that businesses are able to identify this before the problem escalates into disciplinary action - which will only serve to make the employee feel even more isolated and unmotivated.  The company therefore needs to be proactive by:

• Educating themselves on the warning signs of mental health issues and addiction
• Providing an environment which is a safe space for people to discuss their issues
• Providing access to professional support such as an alcohol rehab program to help them regain control over their personal and professional lives

All too often, ill informed and overly rigid supervisory guidelines mean that an employee who needs help is instead punished through disciplinary action which will obviously exacerbate the problem. Instead, businesses need to foster a healthier and more supportive work environment through investment in employee well-being for a stronger and more engaged workforce.

3. Engagement Through Recognition

When anyone feels undervalued, he or she is unlikely to put in 100%. A lack of appreciation - even for high performers - can quickly lead to disengagement, a lack of enthusiasm and a reluctance to try to exceed expectations. When our hard work is ignored it's almost inevitable that we'll begin to feel that there's little point in making an effort.

The solution

Of course, we're not saying that employees should be treated like children whose every move should be rewarded, however, a failure to acknowledge hard work - especially when someone has "gone the extra mile" - can quickly lead to apathy and a decrease in performance. HR departments should lead the charge by encouraging managers, team leaders and supervisors to boost morale by:

• Offering simple verbal acknowledgements of a job well done
• Offering small incentives for achievements
• Offering private feedback
• Offering public appreciation and / or meaningful rewards for larger accomplishments

All of these things can really help in strengthening staff commitment and boosting morale as well as improving performance for long term success.

4. Tackling Toxicity to Improve Motivation

It should go without saying that a toxic workplace will sap energy and motivation however many businesses struggle to recognize the signs that they've created a toxic environment. Some things to look out for can include:

• Excessive and / or harmful gossip
• A lack of respect between employees
• Favoritism
• Unfairness
• Poor supervision or leadership

According to a survey by the American Psychological Association, a shocking 19% of employees feel that their workplace is very or somewhat toxic. Working within a toxic environment - particularly one in which conflict is normalized - can be extremely stressful and can even lead to mental health issues.

A toxic work environment can quickly chip away at anyone's sense of worth, leading to a lack of engagement, increased absenteeism, and a whole lot more. Within this type of environment, people will often make mistakes and miss deadlines. The knock on effect of this can be decreased teamwork and increased resignations.

The solution

This may be one of the trickiest situations that an HR department can face and will often require numerous conversations with managers, team leaders and supervisors. HR will need to inform managers of the harmful behaviors and demonstrate the ways in which these things are hurting the business. They should then work on setting clear expectations and timelines for improvements to be made. Similarly, all employees should be put on notice by their direct supervisors that such behavior will no longer be considered acceptable.

5. Matching Skills with Roles for Increased Productivity

This one should really be pretty obvious but, placing employees in roles that don't match their skills and experience is a very bad idea! This works both ways of course. For example; someone who's placed in a role above their skillset will struggle. On the other hand, if they're employed in a role below their skill set they'll become bored, unchallenged and disengaged.

Too many businesses choose to take a patchwork approach to filling roles due to either budget constraints or laziness, but this can be extremely harmful for everyone. A poor job fit will not only affect individual performance but will have a very real knock-on effect across the team as co-workers may have to “carry” the person who's struggling. This in turn leads to resentment, burnout, imbalances and all sorts of tension.

The solution

The best way to tackle this is to nip it in the bud right from the start through the hiring process. HR departments should ensure that they have up-to-date job descriptions for each role, including must-have and nice-to-have qualifications, skills and experience. It's also essential to provide proper training and development opportunities to allow employees to move into new positions without feeling out of their depth.



By prioritizing proper job alignment, you can improve morale, productivity and retention as well as allowing everyone to feel valued and to better reach their potential within the company.

6. The Right Tools for the Job

If you want your staff to be productive, it's essential that they have the tools to do their jobs effectively. Despite this, many businesses are using outdated or inadequate technology and by doing so are effectively sabotaging their performance. "Old tech" such as sluggish software can cost a business a significant amount in time, productivity ... and cash. Slow running programs or frequent system crashes eat up time, interrupt workflows and cause stress and frustration among employees. Similarly, failing to invest in automation means that time is wasted on simple repetitive tasks leading to errors and a reduction in efficiency.

The solution

We all know that times are tough for a lot of businesses right now (but aren't they always). Their finance team may think it's a good idea to save money: it certainly looks good on paper. But using technology that's barely *or not) fit for purpose is a false economy which creates a whole load of frustration. It's absolutely essential that people have the equipment they need to do their jobs properly. For this reason, businesses need to invest in software and hardware updates to keep their operations running smoothly and efficiently. Additionally, this will help with employee engagement and productivity as they'll no longer be fighting against slow processing speeds and unreliable systems.

7. Training Staff for a Brighter Future

One of the biggest sins committed by businesses is skimping on training.  Well, we would say that, wouldn't we?  But it's true, even at a basic level.  All too often, new hires are expected to hit the ground running with little or no training. Needless to say, this can be frustrating and unsettling and can lead to confusion and mistakes. Without clear guidance and training from their supervisors, employees are unable to complete their tasks efficiently, and uncertainty about expectations inevitably leads to delays in action, and even decision making.

The solution

Consistent training and development is a vital part of any successful business. Proper training has some very real benefits, including:

• Clarity on how to perform tasks
• Improved accuracy
• Improved efficiency
• A reduction in errors
• Improvement of overall performance

A well trained workforce is like a well-oiled machine with every person knowing their role. For this reason, companies should invest in continuous learning programs which will keep employees engaged and motivated. Well structured training is also a great way of ensuring that staff are kept informed, capable and up to date on new technology and industry changes. Investing in training is investing in your workforce, and so inconsistent or outdated training methods are simply not good enough.

Conclusion

If poor employee performance is impacting your business, it's important to blame the right people! All too often, businesses will penalize someone for poor results without understanding the underlying reasons. As we've shown in this article, issues like unclear expectations, outdated technology, and lack of recognition all contribute to declining efficiency.

For a productive and engaged workforce, any business needs to take proactive steps such as ensuring adequate equipment, proper training and a healthy working environment. While some of these things may require a financial investment, they'll pay back big dividends in the long run.