How to keep staff productive when it’s sunny outside
When the sun comes out to play, it’s understandable that staff often want to be anywhere other than the office – so keeping them productive can be a real challenge. But the good news is that it’s not impossible; there are still ways to ensure that you’re getting the most out of your workforce.
Offer flexible working
For many, the summer months can drag, particularly for those employees with family or children who are enjoying time off and long school holidays. Employers who offer flexible hours, or work from home options during the summer months may well find that their staff are happier and team morale is higher, which will often result in increased productivity.
The summer has already offered up a host of temptations in the form of the Euros and Wimbledon, and this looks set to continue as the Rio Olympics start next month. Making allowances for staff who want to support this event, or implementing later start or finish times to accommodate, could help to keep output high; if staff feel like they’re valued and trusted, performance is likely to improve too.
Take it outside
When the sun’s out, take the meetings out of the boardroom! If you want to ensure you’ve got everyone’s attention, and be certain that they’re not staring longingly out the window and tuning out everything you have to say, then moving the weekly catch-up outside could be an ideal solution. Fresh air and sunshine can work wonders when it comes to lifting the mood and improving alertness; so as long as you’ve got a laptop, Wi-Fi, and an outside seating area, there’s nothing to stop you and the team from working al fresco and replenishing vitamin D levels – great for an energy boost.
Encourage holidays
In today’s hectic working world, many professionals view taking time away from the office as a sign of weakness, opting to forgo any holiday allowance and spend the time working. It goes without saying that this behaviour can have extremely negative effects on employee health, as they risk burning out or dealing with increasing stress levels; both of which will negatively affect productivity and output. By encouraging staff to make use of their holiday allowance, you can rest assured that they’ll be coming back to work refreshed, motivated and ready to go.
Schedule team events
Whether it’s a get together for drinks after work on a Friday, or an outdoor picnic lunch during the week, scheduling team events is a sure-fire way to keep morale high. Spirits are often higher throughout the warm summer months, so getting your team together to socialise is crucial; staff who get on well will often support and encourage each other, which should ultimately help to keep workplace motivation on track.
Offer new opportunities
If your business is prone to a summer lull, make the most of this by offering your staff the chance to learn something new. A bored or unfulfilled workforce is unlikely to be smashing targets or meeting output goals, so by offering new learning and development opportunities or enabling staff to liaise more with different teams and take on new projects, you’ll be keeping your workforce tuned in and productive.
While it can be a challenge to keep staff motivated and productivity levels at the maximum throughout the slower summer months, it can be done; embracing the weather and offering more flexibility is key. If your employees consistently work hard and yet seem to be flagging throughout July and August, it could be time to mix up the daily routine.
Many workers will likely be grateful for the chance to spend more time outdoors, and will harness the chance to learn something new; the sunshine doesn’t have to mean the end of productivity, and making the most of the summer months can actually be a great way to rekindle your team’s motivation.
Source: http://realbusiness.co.uk/