Tips for Cultivating a Productive Work Culture in Small Businesses

Small businesses must run tight operations. For successful growth, every employee needs to pull their weight (and then some), but the stressors of keeping up shouldn’t bog you down. There are many ways to improve productivity and efficiency without burning out your team.

In this article, we’ll discuss some of the ways your SMB can foster a productive work environment that empowers employees and fuels growth. Specifically, we’ll look at things like:

• How outsourcing HR services can help your business scale
• Ways to leverage technology to drive HR efficiency
• What to know about workflow optimization
• Simple strategies to boost productivity
• How to effectively delegate tasks

If you have questions about managing business growth, get in touch with our team at The OIS Group.

 

Optimizing Growth and Improving Productivity by Outsourcing to a PEO

Cultivating a productive work culture helps foster collaboration, enhance employee satisfaction, and drive organizational performance, but getting there requires deliberate effort and strategic initiatives. One solution many small- to mid-sized employers consider is turning to a Professional Employer Organization (PEO) to outsource time-consuming tasks. In doing so, your employees can prioritize value-add initiatives while the entire business gains access to a team of HR experts and benefits.

 

PEOs offer startups a strategic partnership that goes beyond traditional HR support and provides a range of customizable benefits tailored to the unique needs of their business, including the following:

• Access to comprehensive benefits: One of the key reasons many startups turn to a PEO is because PEOs can deliver robust HR services while also providing unique, Fortune 500-style benefits that are otherwise unattainable for small and medium-sized businesses. This is due to the economies of scale generated through the co-employment relationship PEOs have with the business.

 

• Expert HR management: When startups outsource services like HR, not only are they streamlining operations, but they’re also gaining access to a team of experts who specialize in helping businesses navigate complex employment laws, regulations and compliance requirements.

• Cost savings: Another benefit is that PEOs can often negotiate better rates on benefits and insurance. Those savings are then passed on to your startup. Moreover, outsourcing HR tasks reduces the need for an in-house HR team thereby saving on staffing costs.

• Improved efficiency and technology: PEOs leverage advanced HR technology to streamline human capital management processes such as payroll, time and attendance tracking, employee onboarding, performance management and others.

 

In addition to these benefits, working with a PEO enables startup businesses to redirect their time, energy and focus toward other core business functions and prioritize growth initiatives without the burden of managing HR tasks.

Leveraging Technology to Drive HR Efficiency in Small Businesses

As mentioned, another solution to boost productivity in your workplace is to turn to technology. To be most efficient, you need a tool that aligns with your priorities. A custom solution is the best way to achieve that. As you evaluate your human resource information system (HRIS) needs, here are some areas to consider that could further maximize productivity and reduce your HR costs.

• Benefits administration software – This technology unifies benefits with HR and payroll, streamlines the enrollment process, reduces administrative burden and takes the complexity out of compliance.

• Applicant tracking software – When done properly, your HR technology should seamlessly gather data and provide you with key insights. This process starts by leveraging applicant tracking software so you can save time filtering applications and quickly find the right person for the position.

• Online onboarding system – Once an employee accepts a position at your company, an online onboarding system enables employees to complete a paperless new hire process ahead of time so they can start working from the moment they walk in the door on their first day.

• Performance management software – PM software enables managers to quickly assess how a team or individual employee is doing and discover areas of opportunity to improve their performance.

• Time and labor management software – No more punching paper, time labor management software seamlessly transfers accurate employee hour data directly into the database of your HRIS system.

There are countless HR technology solutions on the market to help your SMB become even more efficient. As consultants and PEO brokers, our team at The OIS Group offers clients a full review free of charge so we can find the right HR solution just for them. We take a holistic approach to understand your needs, save time, and obtain cost-effective results so your business can thrive. Contact us today to schedule a consultation.

 

Simple Strategies to Boost Productivity in Small Businesses

Outsourcing HR services and turning to technology are effective ways to improve productivity and efficiency in SMBs, but it’s also important to look at the day-to-day operations and the ways tasks are managed.

While overhauling workflows is a critical task for every business, right now may not be the right time for your SMB to take it on. The good news is you can start boosting productivity and improving workplace efficiency without committing to a complete workflow revamp at this very moment.

While we encourage you to prioritize workflow optimization as soon as possible, we recognize it’s not always realistic for businesses that are already stretched thin to do. In the meantime, here are some simple ways you and your team can pave the path for greater productivity – pronto!

Productivity Hacks for SMBs

• Set clear goals and priorities – Knowing what you’re working toward helps focus your team’s efforts on activities that drive the most impact. Revisit your short- and long-term goals regularly to remain motivated and accountable.

• Be a slave to structure – Establish a structured daily routine for yourself and your team. Consistency fosters productivity and helps maintain momentum throughout the day.

• Turn to technology – Leverage task management tools and software to organize, assign and track tasks efficiently. Tech tools can help eliminate redundancies and keep everyone on the same page.

• Minimize distractions – We all have things that distract and detract us from our work. Identify whatever they are for you and take steps to minimize or eliminate them. Encourage your team to create distraction-free zones and establish boundaries to maximize focus and productivity.

• Delegate responsibilities – Delegation can be hard, but no one has the capacity to do it all. Delegate tasks to trusted team members based on their strengths and expertise so you can focus on higher-level priorities.

• Take breaks – While it may feel counter-productive, taking breaks is one of the best ways to maximize productivity. When you have time to reset and recharge, you can come back to the task more focused and energized. A time-based productivity method many employees find helpful is the Pomodoro Technique. You can learn more about how it works here.

Boosting productivity in a small business doesn’t always require complex strategies or extensive resources. By implementing these simple yet effective tactics, you can create an environment conducive to productivity and success.

 

How to Effectively Delegate Tasks

Delegating workplace tasks can be hard – really hard – especially for SMB leadership teams and entrepreneurs, but doing so allows you to be more productive with your time. When delegating, it’s important that you don’t let perfect be the enemy of good. It’s equally important that you set your teammates up for success. Here are some ways to do so:

• Know your team’s strengths – Understanding where your team members shine and the type of work they enjoy will help you be a more effective delegator. Additionally, ask them what new skills they are interested in learning.

• Identity tasks to delegate – Consider your business goals and priorities. Identify which tasks take precedence and if any require special skills or training. Recurring tasks can be good ones to hand off or automate because they are predictable yet still consume a lot of time.

• Introduce the task clearly and provide guidance – Before sending the team member off and running, be sure to provide an adequate context of the task and give them all the information they need to be successful. Encourage them to ask questions along the way if they encounter roadblocks. Remember there’s a learning curve to every project. Offer feedback and regular check-ins so they are equipped to do the job well.

• Prioritize results – As you train a new person, you may be tempted to think your way is the only way. But if the results are positive, it’s ok if they do something a little differently than you would have done. Give them space to figure things out and work in whichever way they prefer – as long as they produce positive results.

• Give credit where credit is due – Once you’ve verified their work, be sure to give them credit for the work. Being recognized in front of peers or leadership can also be motivating.

Delegating tasks effectively can take some practice, and it requires you to trust your team, but it’s also the surest path to improved efficiency and business success.

For more tips on optimizing workplace processes and improving productivity, check out our blog and contact us at The OIS Group anytime to learn how outsourced HR solutions can be a boon to your business. We offer clients a full review free of charge so we can find the right solution for them.