5 Things that Decrease Workplace Productivity & How to Avoid Them

Productivity is essential in the workplace. While it doesn't tell the whole story, looking at this measure does give at least a rough idea of where an employee stands. As you can expect, many things decrease workplace productivity. 

The good thing is that none of these factors are so extreme that there's no way to address them. The question is, is your productivity important enough for you to take the necessary steps to keep it elevated? Once you can give a positive response to that query, it's just a matter of knowing what you can do to get things back on the right track. 

Here's a look at five things that decrease workplace productivity and what you can do to prevent them from taking your workdays hostage. 

1. Bad Time Management

Improper time management is one of the biggest killers of productivity that exists. The whole idea of remaining productive revolves around delivering a certain standard of output in a fixed unit. Once time management goes off the rails, a big part of that concept immediately crashes. 

Some people are better at time management than others. Nevertheless, everyone can maintain good productivity once they find what works for them. You may realize that some of the more invasive time management methods are the ones that you respond to. If that is the case, there is no need for you to be embarrassed. Just accept that you are unique, and don't let your requirements get you down on yourself.

For example, you may have to use a scheduling app. Low productivity in workplace is never a good thing, and it's fine if you must use technology in that way. You could also investigate the Pomodoro technique, as well as other effective time management methods. 

2. Lack of Creative Flow

Even the most creative person experiences this from time to time. Is there anything that you are good at that you sometimes struggle with? If so, it may just be that your creative juices are not flowing at that time. Don't start believing that there is something wrong with you because that happens. 

The most important thing is to get over whatever inhibitions you have, so that your creativity can take shape and contribute to the tasks that your job requires of you. Some job functions are not as harshly impacted by a creative drought as others.

For example, designers are a set of people who have a job that is rooted in the principle of creativity. If you happen to be a designer, that can mean this problem worries you a lot more than others. 

Many designers find that a simple change in equipment, such as moving to the SmartDesk 4, is all it takes to see the creative river flow again.

3. The Lack of a Productivity Culture

This problem is one that applies more at the management level than it does any other. Sometimes, those in charge tend to stifle the potential that subordinates have because of the systems that affect the workflow.

Effective management involves combining the people, place, and tools on a team to deliver the greatest possible productive outputs. Unfortunately, many of the management personnel around the world lack the skills required to pull this off.

Even those who have the skills sometimes start going in the wrong direction, which creates another huge problem. Fortunately, all hope is not lost, as a concentrated effort to build a thriving and morale-boosting productivity culture is not impossible.

However, it does require management to take the necessary steps to build a productivity culture, such as team presence maintenance, ensuring objective clarity, among others. 

4. Stress

Stress is considered to be one of things that decrease workplace productivity. It is a built-in bodily response like so many other innate processes. Many people use the term loosely, but there is good stress and bad stress. The whole idea behind the concept is a release of chemicals, such as adrenaline and cortisol, that change the normal way that the body works.

These responses are great in contexts, such as those that require a "fight or flight" response. For example, if you are taking part in a sport, having an extra boost is a great thing. Once the game is over and the chemical levels return to normal, you don't have a problem.

Unfortunately, that's not the kind of stress that many workers experience, which is why their productivity suffers. Instead, they deal with chronic stress, where these chemicals are released in massively unhealthy quantities. 

The result is that productivity suffers because of a loss of interest, immense levels of worry, and other things that all come together to create an inability to focus effectively. Taking ergonomic action by sprucing up your workplace can create the environment you need to lower your stress levels and be as efficient as possible.

5. Personal Restrictions

Personal development factors can reduce productivity at work. It's one of the reasons why you should always be trying your best to get better both personally and professionally. It's very easy to adopt a stagnant mindset, which translates to how you go through your days. 

Do not adopt the "if it's not broke, there's no need to fix it" mentality. You should always be looking for ways to get better and be more productive, which means that your job never feels like you are just going through the motions. Once you can do this well, you may even surprise yourself with how productive you feel.

There is no single approach to personal development, as it is meant to be a subjective journey. What can you do to become a better person? For some people, that means watching videos online. Others may find that reading or taking personal development courses works best for them.

Setting reasonable goals, knowing and appreciating your limits, taking breaks, etc. are some of the best ways to improve how productive you are. Do this well, and you are never going to have to worry about your output again.