To What Purpose

 Many firms put in systems to improve productivity, by monitoring what is going on and how hard people are working.  They manage - or micro-manage - the time of their employees and how it is filled.

But they’ve forgotten something.

Employees don’t work well when they are micro-managed.   They work well when they know their role in the overall work system, when they have the correct tools and equipment to do their job, when they are fully and properly trained for their job.

Too many firms fail to address all of these factors.

“But what about motivation, what about rewards?” I hear you ask.

I am not ignoring these but, for me, motivation comes  from employees knowing their role - their purpose.  What do they do that helps the organisation achieve, succeed and grow?

So, forget time management of your employees.  Concentrate on managing their purpose and their understanding of that purpose.

Treat your emnployees. like dogs

Do you have a dog?

If so, you know that, above all else, dogs value ... food, yes, but consistent behaviour from their owner.  That is how you train your dog - by applying consistent behaviour tied to small rewards and giving praise when they do something you perceive as good. You make it clear how you want them to behave and reward them when they do so.

People are not very different.

If you make it clear to employees how you want them to behave and praise or reward them for good behaviour - and do so consistently - they will respond with their loyalty - and with their productivity

The Technology Circle

 Last week I suggested that technology might be useful in helping drive productivity forward.

This week, I am changing my view after further reflection.

Yes, over time firms have used technology to improve their business performance.  But there is some evidence to suggest the pattern is now somewhat changed.  It seems as though well-performing firms are using investment in technology to increase the performance advantage they already have.  In effect, they are realising some of the value they have created to fund the next stage of development - a virtuous circle of improvement.

Firms who cannot realise that funding stream have to work much harder or take greater risks to fund their development - and may spend some time playing ‘catchup’ before they can break into the circle. 

So, if you think you cannot fund the technology you need to improve your business, you might already have 'lost the race'.

Technology might help

Major technological change does boost productivity. Think of the really big developments - the wheel, the steam engine, the computer, the Internet, the robot. Though it takes time, such technologies have transformed industry and  human life in general.  Sometimes, of course ,the developments are on a smaller scale or more niche in terms of applicability - but important drivers of productivity no less.  

So what are the new technologies that are transforming or will transform industrial and commercial processes.

Well, drones are proving very useful in surveying both small and large physical areas - and objects.  Using a drone to scan an aircraft’s fuselage for signs of wear is much quicker than building the scaffolding for humans to do a close-up physical inspection. Artificial and mixed reality headsets could revolutionise skills training and development - and assessment.

The ‘trick’ is to keep your eye on technological development and regularly assess whether it does, or could, apply to your business, your products, your processes.  Scanning the technology horizon should involve looking at new and emerging technologies - not just obviously relevant technologies but seemingly irrelevant technologies that can be made relevant by the way in which they are applied.

Why wouldn’t you look at what might be a helping hand to improved productivity for your business?