16-05-2022

How to monitor employee progress and productivity?


Productivity is a recently fashionable word that many of us use as a measure of success. What is it really and what is the significance for the company’s development? How to measure its index in employees? Here are some interesting ways and specific tools.

Productivity – what is it and what does it matter?

The cult of productivity seems to dominate today. From social media for sharing achievements to tools that measure productivity, many of us today are striving to use our time as intensively and efficiently as possible. What does productivity really mean? Is – and if so, why – is it important for the functioning of the enterprise? The Management Encyclopedia defines productivity as “the ratio of the amount of produced and sold production to the amount of input resources used or consumed”. Other sources also define it as a way of using time – a measure of what we spend that time on.
Being productive is the ideal we strive for – each of us individually and as an entire organization. Productivity, understood as the number of tasks completed in a given period of time, is not always a good measure. It will not be applicable, for example, in art or other fields that require creativity. For many managers and people in managerial positions, however, it is a relatively simple and effective method to examine employee activity. Without it, it is very difficult to judge who and how is fulfilling their duties. How to check employee productivity and progress?

Define what productivity is for your business

This is the first step towards a “productive” team. Each industry is different. It has its own needs and specificity. There is no single way to measure employee productivity and progress – it depends on the goal you want to achieve. Think about what you care most about at a specific moment and circumstances. On the number of conversions made by employees? On real sales results? On increasing brand recognition and awareness? Or maybe on creative solutions that cannot be converted in time? Not all employees and you will not always measure them with one measure – that is why it is worth questioning your own definition of “productivity” and wondering what it will mean at different stages of business operation.

Bet on feedback

Culture based on feedback is one of the most effective ways to create healthy dynamics in the company. Bilateral feedback allows you to analyze the problems and progress of employees on an ongoing basis, as a result, giving the opportunity to introduce the necessary changes. It is a system in which both sides listen to each other and learn about their needs. Most companies use feedback much too rarely – most often during the annual evaluation or other similar initiatives. A monthly or quarter-based system will do much better – and give you a better overview of the current situation.

Focus on quality, not quantity

The growing interest in remote work has led to increased monitoring of the time employees spend in office systems. And although the fear of wasting time by remote employees is justified, it is worth remembering that not everything can be measured with the amount of time spent. Time spent at the keyboard or webcam is not a determinant of productivity. When assessing employees, try to pay attention to the results of their work, taking into account the previously set goals.

Take advantage of the software

Thanks to the development of technology, monitoring employee productivity is now easier than ever before. In addition to the above-mentioned tips, specific tools in the form of online and offline programs that you can install on company equipment will help you. Among the programs available on the market there are both very basic ones – which only deal with counting down working time – and the more advanced ones, which also help in the organization of work. These include, among others Hubstaff, Activtrak, Time Doctor or Desk Time.

An interesting solution is also the SkillBox tool, which comprehensively collects the competences, skills and effects of your employees in one place. SkillBox is a competency matrix that perfectly optimizes HR processes in the company, responding to the real needs of employers and people responsible for human resource management in the company. SkillBox simplifies the employee appraisal process by producing reports, analyzes, documents and period appraisal systems. It is a valuable tool that helps not only track the progress and productivity of employees, but also the entire HR management.
Working in a large team requires monitoring the progress and activity of employees. Thanks to it, you gain knowledge about the operation of the entire organization. The above tips and tools will allow you to gather it quickly and easily.

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