Workplace distractions can take a heavy toll on the overall workplace productivity. Though employers often neglect those tiny distractions, thinking they are manageable, they can significantly impact the employees.
Distractions are the best way to ruin productivity. If employers want their employees to perform exceptionally, they must work to eliminate the reasons causing distractions at all levels.
To avoid this, let’s walk one step following the other to find out the root cause of workplace distractions and work on eliminating them one by one.
Top 10 Workplace Distractions that Can Hinder Overall Productivity of Your Business
Studies have found that the most common reasons for workplace distractions are:
- Smartphones
- Internet Browsing (unrelated to work)
- Social Media Usage
- Irrelevant Meetings
- Gossips
- Checking Emails (Personal)
- Meetings
- Frequent Breaks (Lunch and Smoke Breaks)
- Sitting in a Cubicle
- Loud Coworkers
More than half of the employers agree that employees using their smartphones is the leading workplace distraction, followed by internet browsing (for personal use). It’s no rocket science to understand that numerous games, social media apps, texting, and web surfing can deviate even the most committed employees.
However, one cannot blame technology entirely for workplace distractions. More than one-third of the employers indicated that office gossip, while one-fourth agreed colleagues stopping by to chat is their biggest productivity killer.Â
Further Workplace Distractions
Along with the above productivity killers, various day-to-day events can unknowingly derail an employee’s best intentions. Here are some everyday circumstances that can hinder workplace productivity.
1. Mess Messing with Minds
Surprisingly, studies show that clutter can be a dominating workplace productivity block. A messy desk or office can impact an employee’s focus, limiting their information processing capability. Confusion and chaos are difficult to manage when someone is trying to work, leaving employees unable to focus on their work. This confusion and distraction may lead to stress and anxiety for the employees.
Employers can instruct employees to keep their office space clean and organized to combat clutter-caused distractions. Employees can arrange their files and documents in folders. Otherwise, they can use electronic storage methods such as document management systems. Electronic storage management solutions eradicate the requirement for maintaining physical documentation and additional physical storage space, i.e., cabinets and drawers.
2. Hunger Hanging the Focus
Believe it or not, studies have shown hunger as one of the prime causes of workplace distractions. However, everyone can agree that it is next to impossible to be hungry. Therefore, if your employees are not giving time for their basic needs, like having breakfast or lunch on time, it may be difficult for them to stay focused on work.
Therefore, employers need to ensure their employees get regular breaks and lunches on time and remain healthy and fit as much as they can. Though some employees find it more productive to sacrifice their breaks and lunches, overlooking their basic needs can result in less focus on work.
How Distractions Affect Productivity
Even the tiniest distraction may lead an employee to take longer to finish a task. Not only does destruction extend the duration to finish a task, but it also decreases the work quality of the employees. It is important to understand how distractions can hinder the productivity of employees.
1. Employees Feel Less Productive
When employees feel distracted, it affects their focus on the work at hand, which may result in less productivity. If an employee gets distracted from their work, they have to recollect their focus on the current task, and this shifting of attention back and forth can take a toll on their completing a task promptly. The decreased productivity may lead to discouragement which may further impact the workplace productivity.Â
2. Unresolved Distractions Can Affect Company Culture
Employers and managers should talk about distractions during the workday. If they are not resolving workplace distractions, it can build tension and resentment in the company. The employee’s job satisfaction can get toppled, co-worker relationships can be impacted, and the overall company culture can be affected.
3. May Weaken Relationships between Co-workers
Things get complicated when an employee’s unfinished work becomes the bottleneck, preventing co-workers from completing their tasks on time. It makes them feel frustrated and furious. If an employee is perceived as a slacker, the reputation of the entire team can take a toll and co-worker relationships may suffer.Â
How You Can Prevent Distractions at Work
When you understand the reasons, you can implement solutions to eliminate the reasons. Many employers implement policies and procedures at their organisations, and some may have policies in their employee handbook, including:
- Prohibiting personal calls and cell phones
- Banning or restricting some websites
- Monitoring Internet and email usage
- Limiting meetings
- Setting lunch and break times
- Allowing employees to work remotely on some days of the week
- Ditching cubicles and adopting an open-space layout
However, employers don’t always have to take the tough call. Encouraging employees to take short breaks during work can help.
How Employers Can Boost Productivity
Here are a few tips for employers to boost productivity at the workplace:
1. Schedule Breaks
Encourage employees to take breaks during the day, but ensure an ending timeline. Therefore, employees will know they can take some time to freshen their minds and also let them know when it’s time to get back to work.
2. Be Accountable
If your employees are not feeling motivated, try to encourage them to post their goals of the day on their social media. It will enhance the sense of accountability. Being publicly accountable will push them to finish their work on time efficiently.
3. Spread Productivity
Like smiling, productivity is contagious. Watching how a co-worker can stay productive throughout the day can help motivate others to stay productive.Â
4. A Small Walk Can Help Fix Things Up
If your employees are facing challenges in concentration, let them have a walk outside the work premises for 10-20 minutes. Studies have shown that light exercises can help the brain to rejuvenate.Â
Conclusion: Don’t Let Distraction Frazzle Your Squad
Creating a distraction-free workplace is vital to maintain and enhance the productivity of the employees. However, it is more crucial to allow your employees the freedom to step away from their chairs and recharge their batteries to perform excellently. You can set your rules for better productivity at the workplace by having an open discussion with your employees about what makes them get distracted the most.
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