As a company, we know that team performance is a key factor in improving productivity. This is one of the main concerns of all businesses. Every project manager knows how important it is to make their team feel their best to achieve a better result. Improving team productivity is beneficial to both the organization and the team as it helps to better serve customers. Having team members who feel comfortable, cared for and happy at work, is the best way to grow and improve as a whole.

One of the main challenges when working with teams, no matter how big or small they are, is to avoid misunderstandings and friction, which can affect the workplace productivity. On the other hand, as team members we would all agree on how important it is for all of us to be part of a workplace that encourages us to realize our own potential and that gives us recognition for our capabilities and effort.

Productivity is a direct consequence of how the team is operating. Like most areas of leadership, productivity increases when an improvement on your team begins with your improvement as an individual.

How can bosses and managers help to improve team performance?

1. Put yourself in their shoes

There is no better way to build a healthy relationship than to put yourself in the shoes of your team members. Analyze what would happen if you had to do their tasks. Ask yourself if you would be comfortable with the processes the company demands and the benefits it offers.

If you want your team members to be self-disciplined, start being self-disciplined yourself first! Become an example of what you expect of others.

2. Establish communication channels

It is extremely important that the opinions and perceptions of team members are also taken into account without making distinctions. A truly inclusive company is one that gives everyone the same opportunities.

Appropriate feedback to team members on a regular basis is the best way to know that they are all in the same page.

3. Incentivize your team

As well as communication, incentive is key. What can make your team members feel incentivized? Ask them! Make sure you are paying attention to their needs. Also, training is essential to help them grow as professionals and to reach new positions inside the company.

When goals are achieved, every person that was part of the project should be recognized for their efforts. Small casual outings are a great way to reward your team members and keep them motivated.

Regular trainings and motivational workshops can help to develop new skills, as well as to increase the sense of belonging.

4. Keep calm and . . . keep calm

Allow your team to handle and propose ideas freely. For every company it is important to ensure that the work environment is a comfortable, serene place, where people feel at ease being there for several hours a day.

It is key to generate ventilated, spacious and clean environments. Where work tools work properly and are designed to maximize productivity.

On the other hand, do not focus on passing stress and try to do things out of fear. Stay focused on success and motivation and try to convey a positive sense of goal achievement to the rest of the team, rather than worry.

5. Clear definition of tasks and goals

When tasks and goals are clearly defined, ambiguity is reduced and less time is spent in fulfilling those tasks. Make sure team leaders know what the goals of the company are in order to set the schedules correctly.

It is also important that each employee is clear about what is expected of their performance, which means a clear definition of their main tasks.

Frequent meetings are key to ensuring better communication between all the team members and managers.

6. Team dynamics

Encourage interaction and collaboration between all team members. It is important to have clear policies of respect, non-discrimination and inclusion.

Every employee should feel that her or his voice is valuable for the company, and that they can make suggestions to improve the team’s dynamics.

It is also really important that every person within the company feels that they can grow and glow there.

7. Team building

To build strong and healthy relationships within the team, focus on team building. Encourage interaction and collaboration, instead of competition. Each person has a distinct value to contribute to the organization, make sure that they have the opportunity to show themselves.

Motivational sessions and coaching are emerging as great resources to optimize the team’s result.

To create a better sense of belonging is key to generate weekly instances for the team to get to know each other better, such as after office, special events, camps, internal gatherings, etc.

8. Help to increase productivity

Some strategies to help increase productivity are using timesheets to track the time each person spends on tasks, to see how it can be optimized. Also, using the proper tools and training your team members on new platforms is a great way to increase productivity while also encouraging them.

Deadlines have to be taken seriously, for sure, but projects can also be delivered on-time, according to expectations, with flexible shifts and also home-office. It has been proven that many employees work much better when they feel more freedom and flexibility, so they can focus on goals and deadlines, instead of being in an office having to comply with a fixed schedule.

A great way to increase productivity is being focused on goals rather than tasks.

9. Use project management software

Project management software is an ideal way to make work management effective and increase collaboration between team members.

Project management software helps boost team productivity, as it offers team managers the tools to create effective workflows and notify members of the priority of each task. PM software is also ideal to adjust the workflow to deadlines and improve communication procedures.

10. Give feedback

Clear an accurate feedback can lead to improvement. As team members have a defined idea of how to do better or how to solve a mistake that has been made, more open conversations and reflections take place, which means a stronger relationship and better performance.

Respectful and honest feedback that aims to contribute to the team workflow, will always mean an improvement, and productivity will increase.