23/04/2015
By Esther McMorris, Founder, Nine Feet Tall
In a world where everyone is constantly connected by technology, striking the right balance between the personal and professional can be challenging. The lines between the two can quickly blur and for many employees the average working day extends far longer than is necessary.
It was recently reported by Workplacetrends.com that 67% of employers believe their staff have a healthy work-life balance. In fact, 45% of those interviewed disagreed with their managers - in other words, nearly half of the study’s participants believe they struggle to separate their home and professional lives effectively.
In fact, and some business owners forget the following point when focusing on staff productivity, separating work from home is actually essential to ensure employees remain productive and efficient.
To help business owners, we’ve prepared a selection of tips to help staff drive ahead at work.
1. Setting goals
Everyone needs objectives in life, but many professionals forget to set themselves goals at work. Helping staff to set clear targets ensures they will stay focused at work, which means in turn they can then relax more at home.
Goals provide stability and clear direction especially during busy periods. Staying focused also improves confidence and helps motivate your team when workloads increase. The key is to be realistic - ultimately goals should be attainable otherwise progress will appear difficult, irrespective of whether staff actually are achieving their goals.
2. You can do it!
Confidence and high self-esteem directly influences productivity levels. Therefore it is essential that staff believe in their own abilities and the overall objectives the business is working towards. Remember, self-belief is often contagious and can help others improve their own professional lives.
3. Challenge accepted
Learn to embrace change and challenging scenarios; they are essential for professional growth. Enjoy the learning curve no matter how difficult it may seem and try to find positive elements in new situations.
4. Multi-task madness
Multi-tasking can be a powerful working practice, however it does occasionally leave some individuals overwhelmed. It can also make projects appear larger than they actually are. Creating a clear plan of action which outlines the various stages of a project, including realistic timeframes and delivery milestones, should help increase a project’s focus and lead to greater business results.
5. If in doubt, shout!
Make sure staff are not afraid to ask for help! Requesting assistance when needed provides feedback so staff can handle similar situations in the future. It also identifies who within the organisation wants to do the best job possible and which individuals have the relationship building skills to progress professionally.
Stay focused, remain positive and always remember, work is work and home is sacred.
