Opinion

The Link Between Productivity and Corporate Wellness

30 September 2019

by Moira Dunne

Food and nutrition play a big part but mental wellness is also a key factor. Reducing stress and promoting a positive mindset helps employees feel their best. It also helps people perform at their best. There is plenty of research to show that “happy” employees are more productive. But there is also a reverse link between Productivity and Corporate Wellness.

In general organisations that promote a wellness culture benefit from increased output and better business outcomes. Most employees want to be productive. If people can’t get their work done they feel stressed and this causes them to worry. In today’s workplace where priorities and deadlines are constantly shifting, people often don’t feel in control. Despite working hard and long hours employees can feel they are not on top of their workload.

In contrast being productive gives employees a sense of achievement and accomplishment. There is a satisfaction that comes with making a plan and sticking to it. And that satisfaction allows employees switch off after work which in turn allows them to relax and refresh.

On the other hand a lack of productivity can have a negative effect on the employee’s stress levels and mental wellbeing.

Causes of Stress in the Workplace

In fact if we look at some of the causes of workplace stress cited by employees we see factors that also cause a lack of productivity:

Changing demands and priorities
Inefficient systems and processes
Lack of clarity around role and expectations
Poor communication with managers
Poor Time Management
Long hours, poor work-life balance

A Productive Culture Benefits Everyone

So by removing these barriers to productivity an organisation can also reduce employee stress levels. Employee engagement and output can increase too. A culture of productivity and good time management encourages everyone to perform at their best level.

To foster this culture an organisation needs to provide the best tools, the best processes, the best managers and the best training.

Here are some questions to help identify your barriers:

Are people clear about what is expected of them?
What are the bottlenecks or inefficiencies?
Are people collaborating when deadlines change?
Have the employees got the right skills to be productive and manage their time?
Are the managers enabling productivity?

How To Improve Productivity and Wellness

Encourage your managers and their teams to change together. Ask them to identify their specific local barriers to productivity and time management. By encouraging engagement employees will be more committed to making and sustaining any improvements. This can strengthen relationships as people work together towards a common purpose.

Managers and their teams need to be empowered and supported to make the changes. The organisation also needs to be committed to making the changes identified.

Quick Tips To Improve Productivity

Some of the changes identified may take time to achieve. But there are many practical changes an organisation can make quickly for very little cost.

Here are some ideas to consider:

Provide clarity around everyday roles and responsibilities
Develop a productive approach to meetings to reduce time and improve follow up
Use smart Email practices to reduce Email processing time
Make sure everyone understands individual and team priorities
Identify and eliminate distractions within the office.

Productivity within Your Organisation

An environment where people are productive and manage their time reduces employee stress. It helps employee wellbeing to the benefit of both the employees and the organisation.