Thanks to the coronavirus pandemic, the world of work has changed in more ways than you can imagine.

 

Numerous businesses, companies and organisations throughout the globe have been left with no choice but to alter their approach, establishing remote working networks for their employees to utilise, and rethinking the way in which they offer their products or services.

 

As a result of this, 2021 offers an opportunity for these businesses and their employees to make the most of this new working model.

 

But, if you’re a business owner, manager or member of a leadership team, how exactly can you ensure your team are working as productively as possible? And, with so many changes to consider – from the mental health ramifications of remote working to the sudden movement towards virtual onboarding – how can you keep them readily engaged with the work they’re doing?

 

 

Well, that’s where we can help.

 

By utilising the tips we’ve listed below, you will not only be able to encourage your team to work more productively but you’ll also keep them much happier as a result. Here’s what you need to do:

 

 

According to a recent survey, more than half of all employees frequently skip lunch to meet the Stress and high demands of their job. Similarly, 62 per cent of employees are said to end the day with work-related neck pain – a common side effect of stress.

 

More concerningly, however, is the fact that stress in the workplace isn't going away. In fact, it's only getting worse, with the rate of employees calling in sick due to stress tripling in recent years. 
 

Put simply, something needs to be done.

 

While it can be difficult to recognise when an employee is stressed, having practices in place to prevent it from becoming an issue is vital. Try, for example, to create a safe space for your team to utilise, giving them the freedom to come to you with any stress-related issues they might be having.

 

Similarly, try to teach your peers how to manage their stress effectively at home. 
 

Whether it be encouraging them to exercise more often, take time off to spend with their loved ones or learn a range of mindfulness techniques, thanks to the transition to remote working, it’s now more important than ever to consider the mental health of your team.
 

 

While it may sound a little counterproductive, encouraging your team to take regular breaks is one of the most effective methods of improving their productivity.

 

Employees aren’t robots, after all, so they can’t be expected to work non-stop day in, day out. It’s only natural for them to have days where they’re not feeling as on it as they were the day before – and that’s fine.

 

But, in order to prevent them from burning themselves out, it’s important for you – as their employer – to set a precedent that taking breaks is OK.

 

Even if it’s just a five-minute coffee break or a ten-minute stroll in the park, research has proven time and time again that taking breaks on a regular basis can offer a whole host of benefits.

 

However, only 38% of employees feel like they're actually encouraged to go on them so, regardless of what these benefits might be, many end up feeling overworked and stressed as a result. Don’t allow this to happen at your business.

 

 

With the sudden transition to at-home working, it can be easy for employees to suddenly drift apart from their colleagues and lose touch with their company. Therefore, to stop this from happening, try where possible – and COVID-19 permitting – to visit your staff regularly and talk to them face-to-face.

 

While Skype, Zoom and the various other video conferencing software may be highly effective in their own right, nothing can beat the personal touch of a face-to-face conversation. In fact, sometimes it can make all the difference.

 

What’s more, the regularity of your visits is entirely up to you as well. Whether you'd prefer to visit once a month, once every quarter or only a couple of times each year, having even the opportunity to talk one-on-one could go a long way towards your team members feeling more supported in their job.

 

Plus, it'll give you a chance to get to know them better and discover any concerns they may have, which you can then swiftly act upon.

 

 

No employee likes feeling as if they're undervalued or unappreciated in their workplace. So, rather than leaving your team to feel set in their ways, why not encourage them to learn something new or undergo some additional job-appropriate training?

 

By offering Training Incentives, studies have shown that employees can feel a lot more confident in their role, using a higher level of initiative to both work more productively and generate more sales.

 

Similarly, from a marketing point of view, having more highly qualified team members can only be seen as a good thing. 
 

In a way, by encouraging them to learn a new skill or train for a particular certificate, you will effectively be helping them to help you – talk about a win-win.

 

 

So, there you have it – four effective ways of ensuring your team work as productively as possible through the new year and beyond.

 

The key thing to remember is that you need to put them first. 
 

While you may have numbers to crunch and your own tasks to complete, having a disengaged team will only go on to harm your own performance and deliverables for the business, so it’s important to do whatever you can to prevent this from happening.