Business growth: How boosted team productivity can get you there

Ask any small business owner, and they’ll tell you team productivity is one of the biggest challenges they face when running their business.

What might have worked at one time when your business was still in its infancy now requires new procedures and systems that take into account the members of your team, and the roles they perform.

The growth of your business relies on three important factors: well-established systems and processes, strong leadership, and a dynamic team committed to helping you achieve your business goals.

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As your business grows, your team will become one of your most valuable resources. Together, with their combined skills, expertise and experience, they can achieve more in less time than it will take you to work things out on your own. That’s why nurturing and boosting your team’s productivity is especially important in the earliest stages of growth.

Here are some ways to help you get the most out of your team:

Understand the importance of teamwork

Running a business on your own is hard work, and as your business grows, you will need to hire new staff to keep things running smoothly. Building a team requires more than simply hiring more people – you’ll also need to outline a process for them to follow so they are all on the same page.

If you’re looking to hire contractors for certain projects, it’s a good idea to get them all together and go over what needs to be done, and how to go about it the right way. If your team is remote, you can use tools like Trello or Teamwork to ensure everyone is working cohesively and communicating with one another. Effective teamwork relies on everyone doing their part to achieve business goals.

How to boost team productivity

A productive team doesn’t just happen by accident. Here are some tips to help you get the most out of your team:

Have the right tools in place

Do some research and work out the tools that will best fit your business needs, and make sure that your team is trained in using them. Consider creating a training manual or handbook for new employees, so they have something to refer to when they start.

Work to each individual’s strengths and weaknesses

To be an effective leader, you must know about your team’s strengths and weaknesses so that you can match each employee to the right tasks. By allowing your employees the chance to work on the things they are good at and enjoy, you can foster productivity on an individual level that will spread throughout the team.

Set realistic, attainable goals

While your employees may want to feel challenged at work, they also want to feel rewarded. If your goals are too out of reach, your employees may not see the point in working for something that’s impossible to achieve. It’s a good idea to have regular, weekly catch-ups with your team to ensure that everyone is comfortable with the tasks they have been given and adjust them if necessary.

One of the greatest benefits of teamwork is that it provides a greater sense of ownership. And when people feel part of something big, they’re more committed to the long-term success of the business. At the end of the day, your team reflects your company and that means you need to see them as part of the bigger picture of what makes your business a success.