Did you know the average worker wastes about 12.5 hours weekly? Some causes of time-wasting may come from slow office technology. On the other hand, workers may spend too much time on non-work related activities. Regardless of the cause, time-wasting leads to reduced work productivity, missed deadlines, and lower quality work. Ultimately, it can negatively impact a business’s bottom line, hamper business growth, and make it difficult for the company to compete in its industry. So, do your workers delay too much with work tasks? Here are some ways to prevent wasting time in your business.
1. Set clear expectations and goals
One of the best ways to prevent employee time wasting at work is to set clear expectations and goals for what needs to be accomplished. Doing this will help employees understand what you expect from them and what they must focus on to achieve their goals. When goals are clear, employees are more likely to stay focused and on task and less likely to waste time on unnecessary activities. It also helps to set deadlines for some goals, as this will further encourage focus and prevent workers from spending time on non-productive activities.
2. Monitor and track employee productivity
After setting clear goals and creating deadlines, you should monitor and track employee productivity. You can do this by using time-tracking software or other tools to help you see how much time your employees spend on different tasks. By tracking employee productivity, you can identify areas where they may be wasting time and adjust their workload or work processes to help them be more productive.
3. Use technology to your advantage
Take advantage of technology to automate repetitive tasks and streamline your workflow. Doing this can help to save time and increase productivity. But technology, especially tech devices, can also end up wasting time. For example, a slow office printer, computer, photocopier, etc., can delay work progress. So be sure to invest only in top-quality office devices. Also, ensure that your commercial printer, photocopier, office computer, etc., receive regular servicing to ensure they are always in top working condition.
4. Encourage employee accountability
By holding employees accountable for their actions and encouraging them to take ownership of their work, you can help create a productivity and focus culture. You can achieve this by setting clear performance expectations, providing regular feedback and recognition, and holding employees responsible for meeting deadlines and achieving goals. Effective communication will play a key role when encouraging employee accountability, as it will ensure that you get and give the right feedback.
5. Provide training and resources
Providing employees with the training and resources they need to succeed helps prevent wasting time at work. That includes making available the necessary tools and technology to do their jobs effectively and training on time management and productivity techniques. This way, you can help them to be more efficient and focused, which can ultimately lead to less time wasted, so feel free to consider this.