Many firms monitor employee activity with the aim of boosting overall productivity. They can track employee output to see who is excelling and who needs more help. Some managers take this a step further, by closely monitoring activity throughout the day – especially remote members of the team. If that worker’s Slack or Skype, or Microsoft Lync or Teams status turns from green to amber and lingers there, management wants to know what’s going on.
Social and news media can distract the best of employees. Having someone, or some AI, watching over employees can save time and money, and boost output. There are tools to reduce distractions, track employee hours and help your team focus, so only work time is billed.
You can monitor employee idle time, attendance and job duration. The data can assess an employee’s value to the company. So you can both reward and assist top performers. Time Doctor, for example, distils how much time, exactly, is being spent on an assigned task. Team tracking is possible through project management tools like Basecamp.
But, employee output varies. Many factors influence employee motivation and output during a typical workday. How can you ensure staff are being productive without breathing down their neck, making them feel like they’re living in a surveillance state?
How to monitor employee productivity without being a micromanager
- Set Transparent Goals
Uncertainty saps productivity. It wastes resources and time. Set clear goals for your team to increase productivity. Set company and employee goals that are attainable, measurable and time-limited.
- Results Focused
Focus on results rather than task time. Identify top performers and underperformers. Ask how you can assist underperformers.
- Be Human
We are not robots. People become distracted when overworked. Stress can cause weeks of lost productivity. Workplaces should promote kindness and empathy. Give your staff a sense of belonging. Employees who feel like they belong are more productive.
- Keep Communication Alive
To increase employee output, communicate. Cooperation builds trust and morale. Communication is key to avoiding most issues. To foster reliable communications, Slack or Fleep are firm favourites, with general and team-specific channels.