Employee Productivity and Leadership in the Age of Technology


The backbone of every business or company is the people that represent it and there should be no doubt about this notion. Extra emphasis is placed on valuing employees’ job satisfaction, engagement, and motivating factors, leading to greater employee productivity. 

Leaders are a definite necessity to ensure a community of trust and loyalty for employees within the company.  The art of being a leader is to bring out the best in every output or task. It no longer matters that leaders think they are caring and effective. It matters how the employees perceive the leadership style.


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“Individual commitment to a group effort — that is what makes a team work, a company work, a society work, a civilization work.” Vince Lombardi

Another rapid development in every industry is the enormous need to transition to the digital space and adopt flexible working conditions. Companies have now created ways to spice up the traditional workplace through flexible designOpens in a new tab. and space planningOpens in a new tab.. Companies have also allowed opportunities for work to be done remotely or at least in a hybrid mannerOpens in a new tab.

Let’s dive into the factors that make a leader effective and beloved and look into the changes that technology and other contributing factors have brought to the workplace that can positively or negatively affect employee productivity. 

Five Factors That Affect Employee Productivity

To begin, we must set a clear definition of employee productivity or workplace productivity. According to an article in Open Sourced WorkplaceOpens in a new tab., the concept of employee productivity or workplace productivity should be defined as  “the efficiency in which tasks and goals are completed for the company. By creating a productive workplace, benefits such as profitability and employee morale will be more discernible.”

With this definition, we can clearly state the prevailing factors that can affect employee productivity

1. Emotional IntelligenceOpens in a new tab.

Determining the attributes and traits of a prospective employee has been a long-standing practice. Management can utilize these metrics to determine future work performance, cognitive ability, and stress management, all of which are significant factors to understand how much an employee can contribute and be productive.

2. Workplace FlexibilityOpens in a new tab.

Flexibility involves the degree to which an employer allows the employees their independence to approach tasks or problems from whatever angle they prefer, wherever they may be. This is significant to employee productivity because each person is unique in achieving goals or solving problems. In allowing individuals to have the freedom to decide how to conduct work and manage their working hours, the potential for employee productivity significantly increasesOpens in a new tab.

3. Workplace DiversityOpens in a new tab.

Workplace diversity is a valuable asset for a company to have. It is a way for different world views, backgrounds, education, perspectives, cultures, practices, and thought processes to result in new productivity and clever innovations, both big and small. If diversity is integrated into the workforce effectively, employee productivity and overall company output benefit greatly. 

4. Freedom, Creativity, and CollaborationOpens in a new tab. 

This is a collective term that encompasses giving employees options to enhance themselves in their careers to be more effective in their roles. Equipping employees with the mental and physical tools they need to become better as individuals and later on, as a team or division, will surely boost employee productivity. 

Employers truly need to look into the minor details to give an extra boost to employee productivity. This can be done by ensuring an optimized work environment – office temperature, ergonomics, social climate, physical activity, and even cleanliness. Another factor to consider would be the minor tweaks or adjustments the employees themselves can do to ensure a better working atmosphere, such as focusing on one task at a time instead of multi-tasking, giving up on absolute perfection, and developing a proactive mindset.

5. The Little Details – Work EnvironmentOpens in a new tab. and Self-imposed TacticsOpens in a new tab.

The Value of Leadership and What Leaders Should Learn

Another important factor that could boost employee productivity is having an effective leadership strategy. For starters, leaders who are capable of rewarding and recognizingOpens in a new tab. employees’ accomplishments yield a greater productivity rating than teams with leaders who take credit all for themselves.

Acts of gratitude and recognitionOpens in a new tab. is a simple hack that eliminates feelings of isolation and disconnection, the absence of which will ultimately lead to better business results and an elevation of the bottom line of productivity. Leaders should learn to say thank you more often and give credit where credit is due. Affirmation is a social desire of many, and if applied consistently and systematically, the company will reap the benefits of employee productivity in an instant. 

Another way to improve on leadership is to strengthen the leadersOpens in a new tab. themselves through tried and tested strategies. This can come in the form of: 

– Cultivating self-leadership skills

– Seeking greatness in subordinates

– Involving employees in the decision-making process

– Leading the work-life and the personal life

– Creating a culture of listening

– Empowering others to decide on their own

Metrics for Workplace Productivity

In one of our videos, we look into the best metric to measure productivity as explained by Andrew Mawson, owner of Advanced Workplace Associates (AWA). Key insights to be taken away from the video include the following:

– The effect of your unique behavior and personal practices on the flow of work

– The importance of social relations and knowledge in measuring productivity

– The value of cultivating a community of trust and kindness

If you want to learn more about the key factors in measuring productivity, workplace productivity, and the importance of social relations, begin with this particular video  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xkClYUXy8-oOpens in a new tab..

How should companies ensure employee productivity and how is it measured?

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Steve Todd

Steve Todd, founder of Open Sourced Workplace and is a recognized thought leader in workplace strategy and the future of work. With a passion for work from anywhere, Steve has successfully implemented transformative strategies that enhance productivity and employee satisfaction. Through Open Sourced Workplace, he fosters collaboration among HR, facilities management, technology, and real estate professionals, providing valuable insights and resources. As a speaker and contributor to various publications, Steve remains dedicated to staying at the forefront of workplace innovation, helping organizations thrive in today's dynamic work environment.

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