How do you get the best out of your team without being overbearing? It’s a question that many organisational leaders and managers often ponder. Productivity is one of the biggest concerns for managers, in addition to results and performance. Even if you have a powerhouse team already, there are always opportunities to increase their output. In sales, you need to make sure your team is consistently hitting their targets every month. So, naturally, the productivity levels need to be high. Below, we look at five simple but effective ways that you can improve your team’s productivity and ensure they’re all working at peak efficiency.
CREATE A POSITIVE WORK ENVIRONMENT
As a leader, it’s your responsibility to create a positive and healthy work environment. From the culture to the office décor, the environment contributes greatly to the well-being of your team. According to research, 80% of workers said having good lighting in their workplace is important to them. Also, with most workers now working remote, it’s more important than ever to make your team feel comfortable through virtual meetings and help them stay connected. Ultimately, when your team members are happy, they’re more likely to be productive, support co-workers and show greater enthusiasm.
GIVE YOUR TEAM OWNERSHIP
One of the best ways you can improve your teams’ productivity is by giving more ownership to your team members. This means making each member of your team accountable for their work and giving them the freedom to act on their ideas and take initiative. In turn, your team will start to see how their work impacts the business. Consequently, they will care more about the business and want to contribute further if they’re encouraged to take ownership and provide solutions to problems. The best leaders understand that giving ownership is the key to empowering your team and making them feel valued and motivated.
SET REALISTIC GOALS
When you set goals and expectations for your team members, they will always have something to work towards, which will help keep them motivated. For sales roles, you’ll be setting your team monthly targets. It’s important, however, that these targets are achievable and your team members have absolute clarity over what they need to do meet their goals. Lack of clear objectives can lead to confusion and even project failure. That’s why every goal you set needs to be clear and measurable, and you need to support your team members along the way.
RECOGNISE YOUR TEAM’S ACHIEVEMENTS
There’s nothing more satisfying for an employee when they receive positive feedback from their manager. While it can be difficult to fully understand what makes each of your team members tick, simply acknowledging people’s efforts is a great way to boost productivity. Always let your team know when they exceed expectations and when they’ve hit their targets. An act of appreciation will make your team feel supported and much happier in the workplace. Recognising your team’s achievements also promotes a more honest and healthy work culture.
PLAY TO YOUR TEAM’S STRENGTHS
While it’s important to coach individuals to help them improve in areas they might be weak in and provide growth opportunities, you should always focus on your team’s strengths. Teams perform better when everyone is tapping into what they’re best at. As a sales leader, you need to make sure your team members are working on accounts they feel comfortable with to see an improved quota retainment. Make sure you tailor your sales rep’s strengths to the needs of the client. For example, if you have a rep who excels in meetings and has a knack for securing new business, they should play a heavier role in cold calls and building relationships with prospects. Always look for ways to take advantage of your team’s strengths to improve productivity, which in turn, can bolster the performance of the whole company.
ARE YOU HIRING?
At BMS, we’re passionate about helping businesses build high-performing teams. With 30 years’ experience in recruitment, our team of consultants have an excellent understanding of the market and how to find the best candidates. If you’re looking to recruit new sales professionals, contact us today to find out what we can do for you.
