Leaders, let me invite you to step back and take an honest appraisal of your company culture.

Do you find that there’s a lot of wasted time by your team members — even by yourself?

Do you feel like you’re pulling teeth simply trying to get people to get some work done?

Do you, personally, find your office environment to be a place where it’s easy to get distracted, hard to buckle down, and seemingly impossible to accomplish anything?

If you answered yes to any of those questions, then clearly you’ve got a problem with productivity.

Don’t panic. It’s a fixable problem. The trick is to be intentional in building a culture where productivity is ingrained.

5 ways to create a culture of productivity

This isn’t something you’ll be able to do overnight, and frankly, it’s a task I recommend you tackle alongside a coach or consultant.

For today, though, I can offer you a few quick tips for building a productivity culture:

1. Share your vision.

The secret to productivity isn’t you being a relentless taskmaster. It’s you creating a broader sense of purpose—providing a clear objective and showing your team members how they fit into it. Be clear and unambiguous about what your company’s mission is, and about how each employee’s role helps the team achieve that mission.

2. Be clear about different roles.

Every team member should have a clear sense of responsibility, and of the scope of his or her duties. Impart to each team member the specific value that he or she brings to the whole.

3. Provide opportunities for growth and development.

Over time, employees may grow a little tired or bored in their role, which is when productivity can slack off. Make sure you provide plenty of ways for employees to reach for the next thing—to improve their professional skill sets and take on greater challenges. Formal training programs can be especially valuable!

4. Provide regular feedback.

To have a culture of productivity you also need a culture of feedback. Have formal channels for appraising your team members’ work, including a regular employee review cycle.

5. Facilitate collaboration.

Team members will work harder when you allow them to work together. Make sure you assign big projects to groups, not individuals, and provide a space that lends itself to collaborative work.

Make productivity a part of your culture—and start by showing your team members how they fit into the big picture.

Dr. Rick Goodman CSP is a motivational keynote leadership speaker who provides solutions globally that help people and organizations lead, engage, and grow their business. He is also the author of the book Living A Championship Life, “A Game Plan for Success,” and the co–author of the book Jamie’s Journey: Travels with My Dad written with his sixteen-year-old daughter Jamie. Dr. Rick is famous for helping organizations, corporations, and individuals with systems and strategies that produce increased profits and productivity without having the challenges of micromanaging the process. Some of Dr. Rick’s clients include Heineken, AT&T, Boeing, Cavium Networks, IBM, Hewlett Packard, and Franklin Templeton Investments. Contact Dr. Rick at www.rickgoodman.com or call 888-267-6098 about speaking at your next event!

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