Four ways leaders can boost productivity without adding pressure on employees

Employee productivity problems may often be caused by leadership rather than employees themselves, Inc. reports.

People tend to do their best work when they can focus on a small number of important priorities without constant interruptions, but modern workplaces often encourage employees to stay connected, move quickly and take on too much. Effective leaders can improve productivity by slowing down and discussing priorities before assigning new work, including what employees would have to stop doing to take on a new task. They also identify hidden workloads by having teams list everything they are working on beyond their main priorities, which helps prevent leaders from continually adding more responsibilities. 

Another important practice is creating a safe way for employees to address conflicts and frustrations directly. One company used a structured “clearing” conversation where employees listened to each other and asked open-ended questions, resolving about 90% of the issues discussed. 

Finally, strong leaders regularly discuss employees’ future goals, including what roles they want and what skills they need to develop. These conversations can increase motivation because employees are more likely to stay engaged when they can see a future for themselves within the organization.

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