Technology alone wont solve the productivity puzzle - Viewpoint - careers advice blog Viewpoint careers advice blog

Technology alone won’t solve the productivity puzzle - Viewpoint - careers advice blog Ask what keeps many business leaders, politicians and economists awake at night these days and productivity, or lack of it, is likely to be high up there. The economic downturn, during which we have seen productivity growth slow across most developed economies, has only increased these bouts of insomnia for many of us. So what’s behind this stagnation? In my own experience, the trick to boosting productivity lies in creating a symbiotic relationship between your people and the tools and technology you provide them with to best do their jobs. Providing talent with the right tools, in particular giving them the right technology and training to be even more effective at their jobs, is critical if you want to win in the productivity game. This is something I’m passionate about, but all too often I see businesses do only one half of this equation well. You need both. Here in my own company at Hays, we’ve invested in state-of-the-art front office and back-end technology, but we’ve also implemented new productivity-focused training programmes designed to equip managers and consultants with the skills and understanding to help them assess teams, harness data and better plan their time. This has led to a steady increase in productivity and supports the success of our business. However, none of this would have been achieved without the power of our people behind it. After all, implementing all the latest technology and putting in all the training in the world will do nothing to boost productivity without inspired and driven employees. One complements the other. But without the focus and drive from the top and right through the organisation to create this complementary fit, organisations often fail. So where do you start? Establish a collective vision Technology and training can be replicated by your competitors, but your people can’t â€" they are your key differentiator. It’s important to understand that your most important asset can’t just be plugged in, pointed in the right direction and expected to be productive. They must be made to feel part of what you are trying to achieve in order to perform at their best. I find it very worrying that a 142-country study by Gallup a few years ago showed that only 13% of employees are engaged at work. Many of us have experienced first-hand the detrimental impact that disengaged employees can have on a business. It’s cancerous and it’s certainly not productive. I’m a firm believer in encouraging my people to shape their roles and most importantly, take ownership of what they do and how they do it.  This ultimately helps employees see the connection between their day-to-day  work, and the larger vision  of your business. It creates a cycle of productive behaviour. And that’s the key â€" employees must feel they are part of something. Employees need to feel inspired and see the bigger picture of what you, as a team and a business are trying to achieve. It’s not just the Board of Directors that needs to know where the business is trying to get to and how that jigsaw fits together. Everyone needs to know. Over the years I have seen how those who share the same vision, who feel they are part of my business’ on-going strategy and are on a joint pathway to success with me, are those that will always give my business more and their best. Give your people focus But unlocking the human potential to drive productivity doesn’t guarantee success. I also believe you need to strike the right balance between boundaries, freedom, and trust. You need to have clear targets, boundaries and expectations in place to boost productivity within an organisation. But I also see how many of my clients and partners across different sectors are combining this with giving people space and freedom to think, and that is also key to harnessing a productive workforce. Large numbers of organisations suffer from having too many ‘yes’ men and women. It’s all too easy to take orders and steamroll through to-do lists, but I see time and time again that the most effective teams and organisations are those which are given the space to think about, and challenge constructively, the latest strategy, plan or new product, not just deliver it blindly. As a result, they are able to clinically identify and focus on those tasks which drive the most value for the business. This ultimately makes for a more energised, effective and productive workforce. If you then give this sort of team the tools and technology to get things done faster and better, you are more likely to win. Of course, investing in technology and training will have an impact on productivity if those investments are done well, and that’s something I’m hugely passionate about, but it’s only half the answer. Going back to my earlier point, technology and training can be replicated by your competitors, but your people can’t â€" they are your key differentiator. Never ever lose sight of that. I believe that inspired, focused and talented employees who harness the power of technology, are the solution to the productivity puzzle. So, put the same amount of investment into your people as you do into your technology and you will reap the rewards. After all, you can’t have one without the other. Hopefully you found this blog valuable. Here are some other related blogs that you will also enjoy: The future of recruitment? 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