5 Leadership Strategies for Boosting Workplace Productivity (and Morale)

When it comes to uncovering the root of low workplace productivity, no one says it better than Patrick Lencioni in this quote:

"The healthier an organization is, the more of its intelligence it is able to tap into and use. Most organizations exploit only a fraction of the knowledge, experience, and intellectual capital that is available to them. But the healthy ones tap into almost all of it." 

What Lencioni is getting to is the concept that there is no shortage of talent or skill on our teams - after all, we hire the best of the best. Instead, it’s our inability to create a culture where every team member can thrive in their unique skill set to drive results. 

At the heart of this challenge lies leadership. It's often a lack of effective leadership, whether due to inadequate management training, a deficit of trust, or an inability to relinquish control, that hinders our teams from reaching their full potential.

If productivity is lacking on your team, here are 5 practical inputs you can make to significantly increase team output.

1. Understand each team member’s unique strengths

The foundation of a productive team begins with understanding the individual strengths and talents of each team member. People are not interchangeable cogs in a machine; they are unique individuals with diverse skills and perspectives. 

Research from Gallup found that people who use their strengths every day are 6X more likely to be engaged at work and report feeling 8% more productive at work.

To harness their full potential, invest time in getting to know your team on a personal level. Use the power of workplace assessments, have one-on-one discussions, and provide opportunities for self-assessment. This insight will enable you to align tasks and responsibilities with each person's strengths, leading to more efficient and effective outcomes.

2. Set clear goals and expectations

One of the most common sources of workplace frustration is a lack of clarity about what is expected. To counter this, establish clear and measurable goals for each team member and the team as a whole.

Communicate these goals transparently and ensure that everyone understands their role in achieving them. Regularly review progress in your 1:1 meetings and make adjustments as necessary. Clear goals create focus, motivation, and a sense of purpose, which are crucial drivers of productivity.

At Leadr, we follow the framework laid out in Patrick Lencioni's The Advantage to ensure the team is aligned on priorities and goals from top to bottom of the org chart. Learn more about how we do that using Leadr.

3. Give each person a growth and development plan

People thrive when they see a path for personal and professional growth. Develop individualized growth and development plans for each team member. 

These plans should outline opportunities for skill enhancement, career advancement, and personal development. Providing such plans demonstrates your commitment to their success and motivates them to continually improve and contribute more to the team.

Pro tip: Development plans don’t have to be overly detailed or time-consuimg. We break down how to create simple development plans in this on-demand webinar and this eBook.

4. Engage in consistent two-way feedback

Feedback is the lifeblood of improvement. Establish a culture of open and constructive feedback within your team. Encourage team members to provide input on processes, strategies, and their own experiences. Likewise, offer regular feedback on their performance. Constructive feedback helps individuals identify areas for improvement and build on their strengths, ultimately boosting their productivity.

Tip: Feedback often gets a bad rap. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to create a culture of feedback on your team.

5. Recognize individual wins

Recognizing and celebrating individual achievements is a powerful motivator. Acknowledge and reward your team members when they meet or exceed goals, show initiative, or make notable contributions. This recognition not only boosts morale but also encourages others to strive for excellence. Simple gestures like public praise or small rewards can go a long way in fostering a positive and productive work environment.

What gets celebrated gets repeated.

Each of these steps are simple but effective in increasing team productivity. Leadr makes it easy to put these leadership habits into practice by serving as your digital workspace, a central hub for all of your leadership activities.

Don’t just take our word for it, see how current Leadr users are increasing effectiveness and their bottom line using Leadr.

One customer shared,

“Since bringing on Leadr, my team has made up a multimillion-dollar deficit. The other sales team that hasn’t adopted Leadr yet, has seen their numbers go down. The only thing that has changed is Leadr and the way we are approaching these conversations. By adding in the care and development piece to my 1:1's, I find I have less time for the performance side, but it has helped get down to the main points I want to emphasize. I have condensed the initiatives. Are we coaching our Account Executives to make the right call count? Are we providing value? Are we moving the business forward? These are the questions I am asking now and the results have been incredible.”

-Large Manufacturing Company

Want to check it out for yourself? Schedule a demo of Leadr to see how having a digital workspace can transform your organization’s results.