Top Ways To Get Over Your Small Business’s Productivity Slump

Once you’ve gotten into the rhythm of running your small business, it’s easy to become tired and unmotivated. When you and your employees start to burn out, your efficiency drops, and your sales plummet as well. Here are a few ways to promote productivity, giving your work the spark it needs to get back to that first-day atmosphere.

Inspect Your Equipment

Making sure that your equipment is in top condition is crucial to keeping yourself and your employees motivated. After all, if machines are difficult to use or if they take a long time, you’ll dread using them even if you don’t realize it. For example, if the carts you use to move supplies have broken caster wheels, it takes longer to transport your products. To solve the problem, purchase new stainless steel roller bearings so that you can fix your wheels and reduce wasted time.

Offer Incentives

Incentives don’t always work well after a while, but when used sparingly, they’re a great way to restore a healthy sense of competition. Pick a small incentive, such as a free lunch or an extra break, and set a goal that you can complete in a manageable amount of time. Then, choose random days on which to run the incentive. For example, on every other Tuesday, offer a free pizza to the person who makes the most sales before closing. These contests promote friendly rivalries and increase everyone’s sales.

Ask for Feedback

Maybe there are very practical reasons why your employees have lost their drive, and you just don’t know them. Perhaps they’re having family issues, or their mental health is suffering, or they think that you’re not a good boss. Ask for feedback without pressuring your employees to tell you everything that’s going on in their lives. If your staff is big enough, circulate a survey asking them to rate your performance, and tell them that your door is always open if they want to chat.

Take a Break

If you’re like most small business owners, you don’t like the idea of leaving your company. However, taking a few days off to do something else or go on vacation gives you time to restart when you get back. It also gives your employees a break; they get to take more ownership over your company, and they don’t feel like they’re always being watched.

Getting over your business slump is easy if you follow these steps.