How to Improve Your Workforce Productivity? And Mistakes to Avoid

Many companies seek to improve their workforce productivity with the help of consultants or by implementing various strategies. Unfortunately, the gains achieved with traditional methods rarely meet the test of time.

These traditional methods – the ones most companies lean on to improve workforce productivity – can be grouped into two approaches: training and process optimization. Let's discuss why these approaches are useful but generally fail, when used alone, to result in sustained improvements in behaviors and outcomes for organizations.

In this article, we will see that:

• Training develops knowledge, but not reflexes;
• Process optimization allows the implementation of good practices, but not continuous improvement;
• The proliferation of unsuccessful initiatives increases the risk of team demobilization;
• Coaching enables the perpetuation of theoretical knowledge and the implementation of good practices in a culture of continuous improvement.
  
  

Training

First of all – what is training? Training can be described as “the process of learning the skills you need to do a particular job or activity".

When training managers on topics that are crucial to workforce productivity, for example, their leadership role, our objective is for this transmitted knowledge to be put into practice across a range of different behaviors. In other words, the hope is that managers will adopt and maintain these behaviors over the long term, leading to observable and sustainable improvement in performance.

Unfortunately, while it can contribute to adopting new behaviors, training alone cannot sustain them.

A case in point: training and behaviors

Let's use an example from outside the workplace: your doctor tells you that you are at higher risk of heart disease. He explains your heart's anatomy, potential problems, and some healthy lifestyle habits you need to take up to improve your health.

Now... How long will you actually read the labels on everything you buy at the supermarket? How long will you make sure you get 8 hours of sleep a night, drink 1.75 liters of water a day and run 5 km every other day?

Why is training not enough to improve workforce productivity?

Training develops knowledge, but not reflexes and habits. It’s relatively easy to adopt good behaviors during training and immediately thereafter. But most of us abandon these new routines as soon as we return to our daily routines. The results can't improve much that way.

If these reflexes and behaviors don’t become second nature to us over time and we see only limited results – it becomes much simpler to control our cholesterol by merely taking a few supplements or medications.

As a general rule, the greater the urgency to act, the more good intentions persist. But for how long?

Process optimization

Also known by the Japanese term Kaizen, the process-based approach is at the heart of continuous improvement in organizations. This approach to improving workforce productivity focuses on tackling a specific problem, most often using process optimization tools. For the most part, these exercises are conducted by consultants or in-house experts who attempt to reorganize a given workflow by involving employees from the concerned sector.

The Process approach is relatively simple to master and generally translates into quick results.

However, once the process optimization initiative is over – if those responsible for sustaining the improvements have not truly internalized the new behavior – any performance gains will fade as the improvement team moves on to its next priority.

Why does process optimization not lead to lasting results on workforce productivity?

Let’s take the health example again. This time, you hire a private trainer to help you become a champion in your chosen sport. They create a personalized program for you, with exercises that help you improve your technique and endurance…

Let’s say the trainer, after designing the program and making sure you have everything you need to follow it, moves on to their next client and you don’t see them again. You’ll get a little better, but the results won't be overwhelming.